Amniocentesis: a comparison of 'monitored' versus 'blind' needle insertion technique

The incidence of complications following 382 'blind' amniocenteses, in which ultrasound was used prior to but not during the procedures, was compared with those following 482 'continuously monitored' amniocenteses. The monitored technique was associated with a reduction in the incidence of blood-stained amniotic fluid, the number of attempts required to obtain fluid and with a fall in the number of spontaneous abortions from 9 (2.4%) to 4 (0.8%).