1. JIWAJI UNIVERSITY, GWALIOR
SCHOOL OF STUDIES IN ZOOLOGY
Topic - Amniocentesis Dr. Ramkumar Lodhi
School of Studies in Zoology
Jiwaji University, Gwalior
3. INTRODUCTION
• Amniocentesis is a procedure used to obtain a small sample of the amniotic
fluid that surrounds the fetus during pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is a clear,
pale yellow fluid made by the fetus. The fluid protects the fetus from injury
and helps to regulate the temperature of the fetus.
• In addition to various enzymes, proteins, hormones, and other substances,
the amniotic fluid contains cells shed by the fetus. These cells contain genetic
information that can be used to diagnose chromosomal disorders and open
neural tube defects (ONTDs), such as spina bifida
5. WHY AMNIOCENTESIS
• An amniocentesis may be used for genetic and chromosome
testing in the second trimester of pregnancy in the presence of one
or more of these conditions:
• Family history or previous child with a genetic disease or
chromosomal or metabolic disorder
• Risk of open neural tube defects (ONTDs), such as spina bifida
• Maternal age over 35 years by the pregnancy due date
• Abnormal maternal screening tests, such as maternal serum alpha
fetoprotein level (MSAFP)
• Risk of a sex-linked genetic disease
6. WHAT CAN BE DETECTED THROUGH AMNIOCENTESIS
• Nearly all chromosomal disorders including Down’s syndrome as well as
sex chromosome abnormalities (such as Turner’s Syndrome and kinefilter’s
syndrome)
• Several genetic disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickel cell disease. The
test is not used to look for all of these tests but if your baby is at
increased risk for one or more of these disorders .
• Neural tube disease such as Spina bifida.
• Amniocentasis is the only way to know information about Fetal lung
maturity .
8. AFTER PROCEDURE
• Adviced to rest for 24 hours.
• No strenous work, exercise for 72 hours.
• No air travel for 72 hours
• Seek urgent medical attention if :
1.Feeling shivery
2.High fever of 38 degree celcius or above.
• Persistent lower back pain or abdominal pain.
9. RISKS
• Amniocentesis carries various risks, including:
• Leaking amniotic fluid. Rarely, amniotic fluid leaks through the vagina after amniocentesis.
However, in most cases the amount of fluid lost is small and stops within one week, and the
pregnancy is likely to proceed normally
• Miscarriage. Second-trimester amniocentesis carries a slight risk of miscarriage — about 0.6
percent. Research suggests that the risk of pregnancy loss is higher for amniocentesis done
before 15 weeks of pregnancy.
10. • Needle injury. During amniocentesis the baby might move an arm or leg
into the path of the needle. Serious needle injuries are rare.
• Infection. Very rarely, amniocentesis might trigger a uterine infection.
• Infection transmission. If you have an infection — such as hepatitis C,
toxoplasmosis or HIV/AIDS — the infection might be transferred to your
baby during amniocentesis
11. CONCLUSION
Amniocentesis is a safe procedure that can provide helpful
information about the health of Foetus.
It can be offered to a woman who are at high risk of having a baby
with genetic disease. The risk of miscarriage of Amniocentesis is
about 0.5%, or 1 in 200.
