The acid-base balance (pH, pCO2, bicarbonate concentration) and the oxygenation level of the fetuses (pO2, SaO2) were evaluated on umbilical venous blood (UVB), taken by cordocentesis. At the same time, the glucose, lactate, free fatty acid, aceto-acetate, betahydroxybutyrate and cholesterol concentrations were measured, being essential biochemical constituents in relation to the nutritional st...

The relevant investigations and management of a case of alpha-thalassaemia major suspected antenatally is discussed. The value of ultrasonically guided cordocentesis in the definite diagnosis of this condition is emphasised in the management of this pregnancy. We believe that this is the first time such a procedure has been done in this country.

Invasive prenatal diagnosis techniques include chorionic villus sampling (CVS), amniocentesis, cordocentesis or percutaneous umbilical blood sampling (PUBS), fetal tissue sampling, as well as embryoscopy and fetoscopy (Table 2). Some diagnostic results may be obtained by more than one technique: for example, fetal karyotype can be obtained from cells from amniocentesis, chorionic villus samplin...

This is the report of a case of fetal tachyarrhythmia with 1:1 atrioventricular conduction detected by pre-natal echocardiography in a fetus at 25-weeks gestation. Adenosine infusion via cordocentesis was performed as a diagnostic test to differentiate between atrioventricular nodal reentrant supraventricular tachyarrhythmia and atrial flutter. After infusion, transient 2:1 atrioventricular dis...

Adenosine concentrations were measured in umbilical venous blood obtained by cordocentesis from 14 fetuses of 19-34 weeks' gestation. The concentration did not change significantly with gestational age, but anaemic fetuses showed significantly increased concentrations of adenosine and there was a positive association with blood oxygen tension. These findings suggest that the fetus responds to t...

OBJECTIVES To assess the value of fetal aortic time-domain measurement of volume flow (using color velocity imaging quantification (CVI-Q)) in predicting the severity of fetal anemia. METHODS This was a prospective observational study, in which 24 pregnant women with suspected fetal anemia due to rising anti-red blood cell antibody titers underwent cordocentesis. The fetal aortic time-domain ...

Introduction. A rare case of histologically proven placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) with fetal omphalocele in a 22-year-old patient is reported. Material and Methods. Antenatal ultrasound of this patient showed hydropic placenta with a live fetus of 17 weeks period of gestation associated with omphalocele. Cordocentesis detected the diploid karyotype of the fetus. Patient, when prognostica...