Child outcome following mid-trimester amniocentesis: development, behaviour, and physical status at age 4 years.

Four-year-old children whose mothers had mid-trimester amniocentesis (n = 88) were compared with children whose mothers chose not to have the procedure (n = 46). Intelligence, visual-motor-perceptual skills, language, behaviour, social competence, temperament, physical growth, hearing, and middle-ear function were measured using standardized procedures. Health histories were obtained by maternal report. The results suggest that the wide range of developmental and behavioural variables studied is not influenced by removal of amniotic fluid in the mid-trimester. However, mothers who had amniocentesis were more likely to report a history of ear infections in their child (P = 0.04). In support of this finding were the results of audiological assessment which demonstrated a trend toward a higher rate of bilateral middle-ear impedance abnormalities in children whose mothers had amniocentesis (P = 0.06). Further study of the upper respiratory system is recommended to explore potential long-term sequelae of mid-trimester amniocentesis.