Risks of second-trimester amniocentesis: why all the fuss 30 years later?

摘要

Since the introduction of second-trimester amniocentesis in clinical practice during the 1970s, the procedure has always been characterized as being very safe but associated with a low risk of causing pregnancy loss. Early collaborative studies in North America examined the safety and accuracy of this procedure.1'2 These studies were conducted at a time when many obstetricians did not have vast experience with the procedure and only a portion of patients had an ultrasound examination before the procedure. Real-time ultrasound guidance was not available as we currently use it. The frequency of pregnancy loss after amniocentesis was compared with control populations who did not choose to have genetic testing or compared with general population data.