Obstetrics & Gynecology Track the topics, authors and articles important to you
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Obstetrics & Gynecology 2002;99:255-259
© 2002 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Gordon, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Barth, W. H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Gordon, M. C.
Right arrow Articles by Barth, W. H., Jr.

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

Complications of Third-Trimester Amniocentesis Using Continuous Ultrasound Guidance

Michael C. Gordon, MD, Komal Narula, MD, Richard O’Shaughnessy, MD and William H. Barth, Jr., MD

From the Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; andThe Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio.

Address reprint requests to: Michael C. Gordon, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wilford Hall Medical Center, 859th MDOS/MMNO, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5300; E-mail: mike.gordon{at}59mdw.whmc.af.mil.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to estimate the risks of third-trimester amniocentesis with continuous ultrasound guidance.

METHODS: Cohort study. We reviewed the medical records of women who had an amniocentesis with continuous ultrasound guidance after 30 weeks’ gestation at a single institution from January 1991 through December 1994. For procedures performed from January 1991 to February 1994, we obtained information from a chart review. From March 1994 to December 1994, we collected data prospectively. The primary outcome was whether or not there were any complications within 48 hours of the procedure. We also sought to determine any risk factors associated with complications.

RESULTS: Complete records and data were available for 562 amniocenteses during the study period. The mean gestational age at the time of amniocentesis was 34.9 weeks. Of the 562 procedures, five (0.8%) were unsuccessful and 50 (9%) required more than one needle stick. The complication rate was 0.7% (95% confidence level (CI) = 0.02%, 1.9%). These included spontaneous labor in a preterm gestation (1), premature rupture of the membranes (1), placental abruption (1), and fetal–maternal hemorrhage (1). No patient required an emergency cesarean delivery and none suffered a perinatal death (95% CI 0, 0.8%). Complications were not associated with the number of needle sticks, the presence of bloody amniotic fluid, or the level of operator experience.

CONCLUSIONS: Third-trimester amniocentesis performed with continuous ultrasound guidance has a high success rate and low risk for complications.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2002 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.