Five-year experience with midtrimester amniocentesis performed by a single group of obstetricians-gynecologists at a community hospital.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the pregnancy loss rate after genetic amniocentesis that was performed by general obstetrician-gynecologists in a community hospital.


METHODS
Medical records and billing information were used to identify all genetic amniocenteses that had been performed by a group of general obstetricians-gynecologists from 1996 through 2000. Maternal charts were reviewed for data that were pertinent to the risk of fetal loss: maternal age, parity, ethnicity, procedure indication, gestational age at procedure, karyotype results, physician operator, gestational age at delivery, and live birth/stillbirth.


RESULTS
During this 5-year time period, 370 procedures were performed by this physician group. Completed delivery outcomes were available on 369 of 370 patients (99.7%). Three patients underwent pregnancy termination. Data were analyzed on the remaining 366 patients. There was 1 pregnancy loss (amniocentesis at 17 weeks with vaginal bleeding at 21 week and preterm delivery at 24 weeks). There was 1 other procedure-related complication: membrane rupture 7 days after the procedure, with spontaneous resealing of the membranes after prolonged bedrest.


CONCLUSIONS
Over a 5-year period, pregnancy loss after midtrimester amniocentesis performed by general obstetrician-gynecologists was 1 in 366 procedures.
Blackwell
Sean C
SC
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA. sblackwe@med.wayne.edu
Abundis
Margot G
MG
Nehra
Paul C
PC
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology*; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000379:methods*; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012189:Retrospective Studies