The first 68 cases of cordocentesis at Prapokklao Hospital.

Abstract

Background : The fetal blood sampling, cordocentesis, was first done at Prapokklao hospital since March 2002 because of the national plan to prevent and control of thalassemic disease in Thailand.

Objective : To evaluate the result of cordocentesis that was first be done in Prapokklao hospital.

Material and methods : The couple were screened and counseled to check the fetal blood if they were high risk to born Thalassemic siblings. The data of cordocentesis is collected from March 2002 to June 2004.

Result : Sixty eight pregnant women from 245 high risk couples were included in the study for cordocentesis from March 2002 to June 2004. The case success and procedure success is 100 percent and 91.8 percent, respectively.The average time of the procedure is 16.32 minutes and the average number of attempt is 1.16. The only one case of complication is fetal loss that is 1.5 percent

Conclusion : Cordocentesis is a safe procedure to be done for prenatal diagnosis especially for high risk thalassemic couples. The success rate is depend on skill of the operator, gestational age, stature of the pregnant and quality of the ultrasonogram.