Amniocentesis: Purpose, process, dangers, diagnostic accuracy of this invasive prenatal check

Amniocentesis is a medical process used to diagnose sure genetic and chromosomal abnormalities in a developing fetus and it includes the extraction of a small quantity of amniotic fluid from the uterus, which surrounds the fetus. In different phrases, Amniocentesis is an invasive prenatal test during which your physician takes a pattern of the amniotic fluid the place the pattern of 15-20 ml is eliminated by a wonderful needle inserted into the uterus by your stomach, beneath ultrasound steering and a lab assessments the pattern, checking your child’s chromosomes.

Purpose:

Talking about why Amniocentesis is carried out, Dr Bhavna S Mehta, Senior Consultant OBGYN at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals in Chennai, shared that the Amniocentesis is carried out to search for sure sorts of beginning defects, equivalent to Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality and the prenatal check is usually provided to ladies who’ve a major threat for genetic ailments, together with those that:

• Have an irregular ultrasound or irregular lab screens
• Have a household historical past of sure beginning defects
• Have beforehand had a baby or being pregnant with a beginning defect
• Had an irregular genetic check end result within the present being pregnant.

According to her, it may be used to detect the next situations if the mother and father have a major genetic threat:

• Down syndrome
• Sickle cell illness
• Cystic fibrosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Taysach s illness
• Thalassemia (Major)

When Is Amniocentesis Performed?

Dr Bhavna S Mehta answered, “The procedure is usually scheduled once between the 15th and 18th weeks of pregnancy.”

Diagnostic accuracy:

Highlighting how correct Amniocentesis is, Dr Bhavna S Mehta mentioned, “The accuracy of amniocentesis is about 99.4%. Amniocentesis may occasionally be unsuccessful due to technical problems, such as being unable to collect an adequate amount of amniotic fluid or failure of the collected cells to grow when cultured.”

Risks and issues:

Cautioning towards the dangers of Amniocentesis, Dr Bhavna S Mehta revealed, “There is a small risk that an amniocentesis could cause a miscarriage (less than 1%, or approximately 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 43,000). Injury to the baby or mother, infection, and preterm labor are other potential complications that are rare. You may feel minor menstrual-like cramping or discomfort during the amniocentesis or for a few hours after the procedure.”

Can I Resume Normal Activities After Amniocentesis?

“It is best to go home and relax for the remainder of the day. You should not exercise or perform any strenuous activity, lift anything over 20 pounds (including children), or have sex. The day after the procedure, you may resume all of your normal activities,” the well being knowledgeable steered.

When Should I Call My Doctor After Amniocentesis?

“Call your doctor if you develop a fever or have bleeding, vaginal discharge, or abdominal pain that is more severe than cramps,” Dr Bhavna S Mehta suggested.

When Will I Receive the Results of the Amniocentesis?

Dr Bhavna S Mehta concluded, “The results of the amniocentesis are generally available within 2 or 3 weeks.”