title: Difficulties in establishing routine amniocentesis for preterm labor evaluation.
abstract: After a recent practice change implementing amniocentesis into the evaluation of preterm labor (PTL) or preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), actual performance of the procedure was tracked. Fifty-nine patients were admitted with these diagnoses. Twenty-three patients (39%) were offered amniocentesis and 36 patients (61%) were not offered amniocentesis as part of the clinical protocol. Seven (30%) patients of those offered an amniocentesis underwent the procedure. The predominant reasons for not performing an amniocentesis were patient refusal and provider discomfort. In conclusion, implementation of amniocentesis to evaluate for subclinical infection/inflammation in the setting of PTL or PPROM proved difficult, as only 7 of 59 (11.9%) patients admitted with these diagnoses actually received an amniocentesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McIntosh
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Haas
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy