Ultrasonic placental localization in relation to spontaneous abortion after mid-trimester amniocentesis

This paper summarizes our experience with a series of 562 women referred for mid-trimester amniocentesis for prenatal diagnosis. Ultrasonography was utilized for placental localization. Follow-up revealed a fetal loss rate of 3.03 per cent with 1.96 per cent being spontaneous abortions. Patients with an anterior placenta had a fetal loss and spontaneous abortion rate of 4.06 per cent and 3.05 per cent, respectively. No significant difference in the incidence of fetal loss (p greater than 0.1) or spontaneous abortion (p greater than 0.5) was found in patients having an anterior versus a posterior placenta. Neither multiple insertions through an anterior placenta nor blood contaminated amniotic fluid from patients with an anterior placenta were associated with an increased incidence of fetal loss or spontaneous abortion.