Transcervical vs. transabdominal amniocentesis in the bacterial evaluation of the amniotic fluid
Alba, E.; Lauricella, A.; De Grandis, T.; Calleri, W.; Latino, M.A.
Minerva Ginecologica 44(6): 301-306
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4784 PMID: 1635651 Document Number: 389640
The authors compare the results of bacteriological research on amniotic fluid by transcervical and trans-abdominal amniocentesis. Eighty women at term of their pregnancy, scheduled for cesarean section, underwent a bacteriological vaginal test and a trans-cervical amniocentesis before and a trans-abdominal amniocentesis during cesarean section. The results obtained from both specimens of the amniotic fluid were the same in 90% of the cases. A negative bacteriological result of trans-cervical amniocentesis excluded a positive result of trans-abdominal amniocentesis. Instead, when a positive bacteriological result was obtained in trans-cervical amniocentesis, trans-abdominal amniocentesis gave a positive result in only 60% of the cases. We conclude that trans-cervical amniocentesis, besides being less dangerous, easy to perform and easily repeated, is sufficiently secure and reliable in bacteriological results as compared with trans-abdominal amniocentesis.