Ai. Antsaklis et al., CARDIOCENTESIS - AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF FETAL BLOOD-SAMPLING FOR THE PRENATAL-DIAGNOSIS OF HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES, Obstetrics and gynecology, 79(4), 1992, pp. 630-633
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.