title: Early procedure-related complications of fetal blood sampling and intrauterine transfusion for fetal anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the procedure-related complication rates following fetal blood sampling and intrauterine red cell transfusion for anaemic fetuses at a single tertiary center.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 114 intrauterine transfusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single tertiary referral fetal medicine center at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College London, London, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cases (114) undergoing fetal blood sampling and intrauterine transfusion between January 2003 and May 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Early procedure-related complications (severe fetal bradycardia requiring either abandonment of the procedure or emergency delivery, fetal death, preterm labor or rupture of membranes) were investigated by review of computerized records and individual chart review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Live birth rate, perinatal mortality, procedure-related fetal bradycardia, preterm labor and procedure-related spontaneous rupture of membranes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of cases (77.8%) were due to red cell alloimmunization, with anti-D being the commonest cause. The live birth rate was 93.5%, with a procedure-related fetal death rate of 0.9%. The preterm labor rate (<37 weeks' gestation) was 3.5% only occurring in patients undergoing multiple (>3) fetal transfusions. Complications in this series did not appear to be increased the earlier the gestation at which the first transfusion took place.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a reduction in the number of cases requiring intrauterine therapy for fetal anemia, contemporary outcomes appear to be good if not improving. It is important that the experience required to manage these cases should be concentrated in fewer centers to maximize good perinatal outcome.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Fetal Care, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johnstone-Ayliffe
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prior
authors.forename: Charas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Regan
authors.forename: Sailesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D017218:Cordocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D008485:Medical Audit; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology; D054238:Perinatal Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome