Intrahepatic vein fetal blood sampling: current role in prenatal diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the site of fetal blood sampling (FBS) with lesser complications; and also analyses the reasons for targetting the intrahepatic vein (IHV) for FBS.


METHODS
Fetal blood sampling (FBS) performed on 382 women over a period of 7 years at the National University Hospital, Singapore was analysed. FBS was performed from 13 weeks of gestational age onwards. In 76.4% (292 of 382) the intrahepatic part of the umbilical vein (IHV) was targetted; in 18.3% (70 of 382) percutaneous umbilical cord sampling (PUBS) was performed; in 5.2% (20 of 382) cardiocentesis was performed to obtain fetal blood.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis showed an increase in odds of fetal loss for umbilical cord and cardiocentesis groups compared with the IHV FBS group. It was statistically significant (p < 0.01) only in the cardiocentesis group for fetal loss at < 2 weeks of performing the procedure.
Chinnaiya
A
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Venkat
A
A
Dawn
C
C
Chee
W Y
WY
Choo
K B
KB
Gole
L A
LA
Meng
C T
CT
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006503:Hepatic Veins / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology