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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffCordocentesis carries various risks, including:
- Miscarriage. Cordocentesis carries about a 2 in 100 risk of miscarriage. This is higher than the risk of miscarriage associated with other prenatal diagnostic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. Since many babies are quite ill when the test is done, it's often difficult to determine whether fetal loss is related to the procedure itself or to the baby's health.
- Bleeding. Bleeding from the needle entry site is possible.
- Slowing of the baby's heart rate. The baby's heart rate may slow temporarily after cordocentesis.
- Infection. Rarely, cordocentesis may cause a uterine infection.
Remember, cordocentesis is offered when the test results may have a significant impact on the management of the pregnancy and time is of the essence. Ultimately, the decision to have cordocentesis is up to you. Your health care provider or genetic counselor can help you weigh all the factors in the decision.
- Ghidini A. Fetal blood sampling: Indications and invasive fetal therapy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Ghidini A. Fetal blood sampling: Technique and complications. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Grace D, et al. Training for percutaneous umbilical blood sampling during Maternal Fetal Medicine fellowship in the United States. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2009;29:790.
- Diagnosing birth defects. American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp164.cfm. Accessed March 9, 2010.
- Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 30, 2010.
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