title: Cordocentesis using the combined technique; needle guide-assisted and free-hand.
abstract: Two hundred and sixteen diagnostic cordocenteses were performed using the following technique: A guide was used to deliver the distal end of the needle to the immediate vicinity of the umbilical cord, after which the needle was released from the guide and a free-hand technique was used to enter the umbilical cord. The vessel punctured was identified by its sonographic appearance and flow direction using color Doppler technology. All procedure-related losses which occurred within 2 weeks were analyzed. The gestational age at the time of cordocentesis ranged from 18 to 42 weeks. Most punctures (62%) were performed at the placental insertion of the umbilical cord. In 32% of fetuses the free-floating loop was sampled and in 6% the puncture was performed at the site of cord entry into the fetus. Two fetuses died shortly after cordocentesis. One death occurred at 28 weeks in a fetus with severe cytomegalovirus infection. The other death was due to premature rupture of the membranes after the procedure in a very premature fetus. The overall fetal loss rate was 0.93%. In conclusion, the combination of the two cordocentesis techniques appears safe and highly successful in obtaining fetal blood samples.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine-North Shore University Hospital NYU School of Medicine, Manhasset, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrikovsky
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: V R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Wyse
mesh_terms: D017218:Cordocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005315:Fetal Diseases; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000150:complications; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color