DOPPLER ASSESSMENT OF UMBILICAL FLOW AFTER GENETIC AMNIOCENTESIS

The aim of our study was to evaluate the immediate changes on the feta l heart rate (FHR) and the fetal umbilical artery pulsatility index (U PI) after performing genetic amniocentesis. This was a prospective stu dy including 431 consecutive singleton pregnancies between 14 and 18 w eeks undergoing genetic amniocentesis in our institution. Doppler meas urements were obtained transabdominally before and immediately after t he procedure. Structural malformations detected by ultrasound were exc luded. Student's t-test was performed for comparisons among different groups and observed mean changes. The results showed a significant dec rease in FHR post-amniocentesis (mean 1.5 beats, t = 3.47, P < 0.01) a nd a non-significant elevation in UPI (mean -0.01, t = -0.29, P = 0.77 ) after the procedure. Differences in FHR could be found when analyzed by each gestational week. These preliminary data suggest that althoug h acute fetal hemodynamic changes are detected after genetic amniocent esis, such changes are unlikely to have clinical relevance. However, i t is reasonable to propose the use of Doppler as a method of assessing hemodynamic effects caused by prenatal invasive procedures in order t o provide more accurate in vivo research on this issue.