Risk assessment of amniocentesis between 11 and 15 weeks: comparison to later amniocentesis controls.

We studied 693 consecutive early amniocenteses (prior to 15 weeks) and found a spontaneous abortion rate to 28 weeks' gestation of 1.5 per cent. A control group of women having standard amniocentesis (15-20 weeks) experienced a 0.

Endoluminal catheter-assisted transcervical US of the human embryo. Work in progress.

To enhance visualization of anatomic structures of the human embryo, the authors used a commercially available catheter-based ultrasound (US) transducer (12.5 MHz) introduced through the cervix and into the endometrial cavity of seven women about to undergo voluntary termination of first-trimester pregnancy. The authors term this technique endoluminal catheter-assisted transcervical (ELCAT) sonography.