[Preliminary experience in fetal blood obtainment through cord punction]

Seven umbilical cord punctures where done in viable fetuses. The procedure was successful in all cases, the fetuses had anomalies or non immune hydrops fetalis. There was one case in which the indication was autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura. There is high risk in the punction, but the prenatal diagnostic studies is necessary and useful. The authors comment advantages and complications in this procedure.