Cordocentesis in the assessment of the small-for-gestational age fetus

Fetal blood sampling by cordocentesis in a group of 239 severely small-for-gestational age fetuses revealed a high incidence of chromosomal anomalies (17%). Furthermore, some of the fetuses were hypoxemic and demonstrated abnormalities in carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism. There were significant correlations between the degree of fetal hypoxemia and abnormalities in Doppler measurements of impedance to flow in the maternal uterine arteries and in the fetal umbilical artery, and of mean blood velocity measured in the fetal descending thoracic aorta and in the common carotid artery. Maternal hyperoxygenation in some cases improved fetal oxygenation and corrected some of the abnormalities in the Doppler measurements of fetal circulation.