Aim: to compare short- and long-term complications of amniocentesis performed with 20G, 21G, and 22G needles.
Methods: this observational study included 793 pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis in the Perinatology Department of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey. The patients were divided into three groups according to the needle size used for the procedure: 20G (Group 1), 21G (Group 2), and 22G (Group 3). The incidences of early and late complications were compared among groups.
Results: fetal loss rates did not differ among groups (Group 1=1.57%, Group 2=1.47%, Group 3=1.61%). Rates of vaginal bleeding (1.57%, 1.10%, and 0.81%, respectively), bloody amniotic fluid (2.32%, 6.23%, and 2.67%, respectively) and amniotic fluid leakage (1.57%, 1.10%, and 1.61%, respectively) were also similar among the three groups.
Conclusion: short- and long-term complications did not differ among amniocenteses performed with 20G, 21G, and 22G needles.