Feto-maternal bleeding following coelocentesis

The potential risk of feto-maternal haemorrhage following coelocentesis was examined in 17 singleton pregnancies at 6-11 weeks of gestation by measuring maternal serum concentration of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) before and 1 and 10 min after the procedure. There was no significant difference between the maternal serum AFP concentration before coelocentesis (median 7.5, range 4.5-21.5 IU) compared to the values at 1 min (median 8.6, range 3.9-17.8; Z = -0.504, P = 0.614), and 10 min (median 7.5, range 5.7-20.6; Z = -0.432, P = 0.666) after the procedure. These findings demonstrate that coelocentesis is not associated with significant feto-maternal haemorrhage.