Transabdominal chorionic villous sampling in Nigeria: correlation between number of cases and other variables.

BACKGROUND Transabdominal chorionic villous sampling is generally preferred to the transvaginal approach. The procedure may, however, be associated with complcations due to a number of factors. OBJECTIVES To review the relationship between the number of cases and other variables in transabdominal chorionic villous sampling and also to identify the complications associated with the procedure. METHODS Two hundred and twenty-six cases of transabdominal chorionic sampling performed by a single operator were reviewed. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to individually analyze the relationship between numbers of samplings performed and other procedure-related variables such as the number of needle aspirations, gestational age, percentage diagnosed at first attempt and weight of sample. The complications reported during procedure and pregnancy were also reviewed. RESULTS Prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell disease which was associated for 95% of the cases was the most frequent (95.1%) indication for chorionic villous sampling. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between number of cases and needle aspirations (< 0.05) and between increasing number of cases and gestational age (>0.05). Also statistically significant negative correlations were obtained between number of aspirations and weight of sample (r= -0.9, p<0.05) and between gestational age and weight of sample (r= -0.89, p<0.05). Correlation between number of cases and weight of sample was highly positive (r =+ 0.9). Reported complications included abortion and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS There is a strong relationship between number of cases of transabdominal chorionic villous samplings performed and other procedure variables.