The safety of amniocentesis in relation to site and method

A method of low suprapubic amniocentesis after elevation of the fetal head during vaginal examination has been found to be a safe and valuable obstetric procedure. The incidence of the only complication in 1 362 consecutive amniocenteses, viz. rupture of the membranes, was similar to the spontaneous rate and could well be unrelated to the procedure. Failure to obtain amniotic fluid occurred in 13 patients and in a further 18 patients the amniotic fluid was blood-stained. High, peri-umbilical amniocentesis without ultrasonic control is not justified in obstetric practice because of the possible complications.