Termination of pregnancy for fetal anomaly.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the indications of termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal anomaly beyond 22 weeks of gestation.


METHODS
All pregnant women who underwent TOP for fetal anomaly between January 2002 and December 2006 were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (< or =22 weeks of gestation); and group 2 (>22 weeks of gestation). A comparative analysis of the prenatal diagnosis, established by ultrasound, and the results of postmortem findings was performed.


RESULTS
There were 249 (53.8%) and 214 (42.6%) cases in group 1 and group 2, respectively. TOP was performed at a mean gestational age of 22.1+/-5.37 weeks. The majority of group 2 TOPs (78%) were performed because of central nervous system defects, multiple malformations, and chromosomal diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
A substantial proportion of TOPs for fetal anomaly beyond 22 weeks of gestation could have been performed earlier with timely diagnosis.
Aslan
H
H
Department of Perinatology, Bakirkoy Women and Children Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. halil34aslan@gmail.com
Yildirim
G
G
Ongut
C
C
Ceylan
Y
Y
D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology