[Interventional ultrasound in the diagnosis and therapy of fetal malformations]

The author discusses his own experience in ultrasonically guided needle diagnosis and treatment of foetal malformations. Over the period from January 1, 1980 to May 1, 1985 1266 amniocenthesis, 50 chorion biopsies, 32 heart punctures, 15 craniocenthesis, 10 decompressions of obstructed urinary tract, 1 urinary shunt catheter placement, 2 ovarian cyst punctures, 1 thoracocenthesis and 110 intraamniotic instillations of prostaglandins and hypertonic saline solution, were performed. The author concludes that ultrasound is of major importance in antenatal diagnosis and treatment of foetal malformations, but that the clinical potential of these procedures should not be under-or over-estimated.