Second trimester genetic amniocentesis : Does it worth ? Five year experience

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the data related to the genetic amniocentesis performed in a single university hospital.

Yöntem

Medical records were used to analyze indications of amniocentesis, the results of chromosome analysis, complications and pregnancy outcomes from 1998 through 2002. Anomaly screening and triple screen were performed to all of these patients attending to our Obstetrics and Gynecology Department between 16 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. Patients were referred to second-trimester genetic amniocentesis in cases of advanced maternal age, suspicion of a genetic abnormality on ultrasound or abnormal triple screen result. All of the second-trimester genetic amniocentesis were performed by a group of general obstetricians-gynecologists.

Bulgular

Totally 2686 patients attended to our department between 16-20 weeks of pregnancy during the index period. 159 patients were suggested genetic amniocentesis due to advanced maternal age, suspicion of genetic abnormality on ultrasound or abnormal triple screen. A total of 131 genetic amniocentesis were performed. The indications were advanced maternal age in 24, suspicion of genetic abnormality on ultrasound in 15, history of siblings with Down syndrome in 2 and abnormal triple screen in 90 patients respectively. Two pregnancies were terminated after the diagnosis of Down syndrome by genetic analysis. Four pregnancies were terminated because of Corpus callosum agenesis, gastroschisis, omphalocele and choroid plexus cyst detected on ultrasound. Two pregnancy losses due to the procedure were detected; revealed a 1.5% complication rate of the overall second-trimester genetic amniocentesis performed. One of the fetal loss happened 10 days after the procedure during which sudden fetal bradycardia was observed. No membrane rupture was recorded. Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities were not recorded after birth among patients that triple screen were already normal.

Sonuç

Although the size of this study is limited. our complication rates are similar that estimated in the literature (1.5%). Being one of the most performed invasive techniques for prenatal diagnose; the complication rates of genetic amniocentesis are in acceptable ranges.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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