CARDIOCENTESIS - AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF FETAL BLOOD-SAMPLING FOR THE PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES

One hundred fifty-eight cases are reported of fetal cardiocentesis dur ing the second trimester for the prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobinopath ies. In all cases, fetal blood sampling by funipuncture was technicall y impossible or unsuccessful. There were nine fetal deaths possibly re lated to the procedure, for a total fetal loss rate of 6.5%. If one fe tal loss that occurred 46 days after the procedure is excluded, the to tal procedure-related fetal loss rate is 5.6%. No cases of maternal ch orioamnionitis, fetal cardiac trauma, or hemopericardium were encounte red among the living infants. We conclude that cardiocentesis should b e offered in highly selective cases when funipuncutre is not technical ly feasible. In experienced hands, the procedure has a fetal loss rate of 6.5% with no morbidity among the survivors.