COMPLICATIONS OF CORDOCENTESIS IN HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES - EFFECTS ON FETAL LOSS OR PRETERM DELIVERY

Between 1990 and 1993, 166 cases underwent cordocentesis and were foll owed for at least the following 4 weeks in the Prenatal Diagnosis and Therapy Centre of Vienna University. The indications for the procedure were structural malformations in 46.4 per cent of the cases, other hi gh-risk diagnoses in 48.8 per cent, and maternal age over 35 years in only 4.8 per cent. We investigated retrospectively all cases of compli cations resulting in fetal loss or preterm labour. Abortion, intrauter ine fetal death, chorioamnionitis, and preterm delivery occurred in 0. 6, 5.4, 0.6 and 9.0 per cent of these cases, respectively, adding up t o a total of 26 cases (15.7 per cent). Although this rate looks relati vely high, 20 of the 26 cases had already displayed signs implying a c omplicated prognosis. Neither maternal age, gestational age, number of attempts, nor placental location correlated with fetal loss or preter m delivery. Significantly higher rates of fetal loss or preterm delive ry were observed when cordocentesis was performed in cases diagnosed a s duodenal/intestinal stenosis or hydrops-ascites-hydrothroax/hygroma colli (P=0.0488 and P=0.0005). The frequency of complications did not decrease as the experience of the operators increased.