Pregnancy loss rate following amniocentesis

Objective: To determine pregnancy loss rate following amniocentesis in a mainstream urban healthcare centre. Methods: We analysed cases of all pregnant women who underwent Amniocentesis at the Foetal Medicine Unit of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, during 2001 to 2010. Cases of unknown pregnancy outcome were excluded, and after the process of consent, the final study population was 228 patients. Two operators performed the procedure using 22 G needle.Results: The mean age of women in the study was 32±6 years. The commonest indication of the procedure was a previous baby with Down s Syndrome. Majority 197 (86.6%) cases had a normal karyotype. Down s syndrome was 14 (6.1%). Regarding the outcome of pregnancies, it was normal in 173 (77.3%) cases while 2 (0.8%) intrauterine deaths were reported, one of which was within two weeks of the procedure. The number of pregnancy termination was 27 (11.7%). There was one miscarriage which means the pregnancy loss rate in the study population was 0.4%. Conclusion: In order to have good quality control, healthcare audits are essential on both short-term and longtermbasis.