Massive extraperitioneal bleeding -- a rare complication of amniocentesis.

Amniocentesis is a widely used procedure, infrequently associated with complications. A patient in the 16th week of pregnancy is described, in whom amniocentesis for the purpose of genetic counselling was complicated by severe extraperitoneal bleeding into the abdominal wall, necessitating the surgical evacuation of a large hematoma. The bleeding most probably resulted from the accidental puncture of the right deep epigastric artery.