title: Two years of mid-trimester amniocentesis in Johannesburg.
abstract: During a 2-year period 438 mid-trimester amniocenteses were performed on women at risk of producing an abnormal infant. The commonest indications were advanced maternal age (61% of cases), neural tube defects (18%) and Down syndrome (11%). A 92,5% follow-up revealed a spontaneous abortion rate of 3% (1,5% if abortions within 8 days of the procedure were considered). Premature birth occurred in 4,4% of cases, neonatal death or stillbirth in 0,7%, and birth defects which were detectable by amniocentesis in 2%. Abnormalities were detected in 4,9% of cases, so that 95,1% of the patients were reasured by the results obtained. No defects diagnosable by amniocentesis were missed.
mesh_terms: D000027:Abortion, Incomplete / Q000453:epidemiology; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000032:analysis; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D013019:South Africa; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014427:Twins