[Complication rates of invasive intrauterine procedures in a centre for prenatal diagnosis and therapy].

AIM: A retrospective analysis of all complications occurring after invasive prenatal procedures was performed in order to have exact data for patient information and quality control in our department.

METHOD: During a period of two years 2256 invasive ultrasound-guided procedures were performed. With the help of a computer data base, the follow-up of 2066 patients was possible. We retrospectively investigated all cases of severe complications resulting in intrauterine foetal death or abortion within 14 days after the invasive procedure.

RESULTS

Depending on the method of invasive testing there were different rates of severe complications in single pregnancies, which varied from 0.44 % up to 0.99 % (Amniocentesis [AC]): 0.74 %, late placental biopsy: 0.44 %, chorionic villi sampling: 0.99 %, cordocentesis: 0.75 %. The complication rate after AC was 1.49 % in younger, inexperienced colleagues compared to 0.58 % in specialists for prenatal medicine. The complication rate in twin pregnancies (AC) was 1.99 %.

CONCLUSION

Before invasive prenatal procedures can be performed, detailed information has to be given to the patients. The exact rate of complications should be included in this information. More complicated invasive procedures should be centralized in a tertiary centre for prenatal medicine because wider experience of the investigators leads to a decreased rate of severe complications.