title: Risks of third-trimester amniocentesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the risk of immediate complications from third-trimester amniocentesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The entry criterion was amniocentesis done in the third trimester (28 or more weeks of gestation). The primary study outcome was any complication within 24 hours after the procedure. The secondary outcome was mode of delivery and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eleven patients were enrolled in this study with a known postprocedure course and pregnancy outcome. The average patient age was 29.8 years, average gravidity 2.9, average gestational age 36 weeks, average amount of amniotic fluid withdrawn 12.9 mL and average number of attempts to perform amniocentesis 1.03. The most common indication for the procedure was fetal lung maturity study and workup for chorioamnionitis. The list of complications observed within 24 hours included: regular contractions (2 patients, or 1.8%), ruptured membranes (1 patient, or 0.9%) and minimal vaginal bleeding (1 patient, or 0.9%). The overall complication rate was 3.6%. There was no perinatal or maternal morbidity directly linked to the procedure. No patients with complications needed urgent delivery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Third-trimester amniocentesis carried a complication rate of 3.6%. All complications were self-limited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Women's Health, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 13419 Punahou Street, Honolulu, HI 96734, USA. ivica@hawaii.edu
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalud
authors.forename: Sapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Janas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal