title: Age-specific risk of fetal loss post second trimester amniocentesis: analysis of 5043 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the risk of fetal loss attributable to second trimester amniocentesis in singleton pregnancies through a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Records of 5043 consecutive second trimester amniocentesis, performed by a single operator between 1997 and 2003, were analyzed. Fetal loss post amniocentesis was calculated by grouping pregnant women in age classes and assessing observed/expected (O/E) rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total fetal losses were 40 (0.81%): 33 cases (0.67%) occurred before the 24th week, 37 cases (0.76%) before the 28th gestational week, and 3 cases (0.06%) after the 28th week of pregnancy. An age-dependent increase of the rate of fetal loss, not statistically significant (Chi-Square = 0.349, p = 0.505) was observed. The total O/E ratio values did not show any statistically significant risk (O/E ratio = 1.25, CI = 0.86-1.64). The analysis of the single age classes did not detect any statistical significance. The excess fetal loss rate associated with amniocentesis was 0.16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No effect of the 2nd trimester amniocentesis was noted on fetal loss.
authors.affiliation: Prenatal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Modena and Reggio Emilia University, Italy. mazza@unimo.it
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pati
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertucci
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Re
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ranzi
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Percesepe
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forabosco
authors.forename: Annibale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Volpe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D012307:Risk Factors