Clinical correlates of pain with second-trimester genetic amniocentesis

To determine the correlation of clinical factors and maternal perceptions of pain with genetic amniocentesis.

This prospective study of midtrimester, singleton pregnancies was conducted between February 2007 and March 2008. Study variables included patient dermographics, previous amniocentesis, previous abdominal surgery, maternal anxiety score, abdominal wall thickness, needle insertion through placenta and the depth of needle insertion. Maternal pain with performing amniocentesis was subjectively quantified with the Thai short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. The independent T-test, one way ANOVA and linear regression were used for analysis, a probability value of < 0.05 was considered significant.

One hundred and twenty-five pregnant women participated in the present study: 18.4% reported no pain, 69.6% described the pain as mild, 11.2% described the pain as discomforting and 0.8% described the pain as horrible. Mean intensity of pain was 2.1 +/- 1.9 (on a scale 0-10). Pain was most often described as fearful, shooting, throbbing and sharp. Parity, gestational age, maternal BMI, anxiety score, previous surgery, needle insertion through the placenta, abdominal wall thickness and the depth of needle insertion were not correlated with perceived pain.

Most of the women reported no pain or mild or discomfort with genetic amniocentesis. Clinical factors were not associated with maternal perceptions of pain.