In a series of 49 patients given 100 intrauterine transfusions for erythroblastosis numerous obstetrical problems were encountered which were not directly related to the procedure. The purpose of this paper is to describe the difficulties experienced and to consider why these could have been anticipated.All of the mothers endured considerable emotional strain. Complications, which in previous pregnancies contributed to producing their Rh sensitization, tended to recur. Deliveries were carried out between 26 and 35 weeks' gestation, at which stage induction was difficult and labour imperfect. In 24 cases the fetus was alive at the onset of labour. The other 25 cases presented the problems of intrauterine death, nine of which occurred in the dangerous second trimester.Because of the coincidental obstetrical problems and the difficulties inherent in intrauterine fetal transfusion, these cases should be managed only in centres equipped to deal with all possible complications.

Adult↗

PubMed1967

Intrauterine fetal transfusions for erythroblastosis. A report on 100 consecutive operations.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Amniotic Fluid↗

PubMed1965

The role played by Rh immunization in pregnancy wastage.

In about 50% of sensitized pregnancies viable infants were not produced when Rh immunization was allowed to run its natural course. In the past 25 years, five major advances have been made in this area of interest: (1) discovery of the Rhesus factor; (2) development of the technique of exchange transfusion; (3) selective premature induction of labour; (4) spectroscopic examination of amniotic fluid; and (5) prenatal treatment by intrauterine transfusion. Virtually all pregnancy wastage due to Rh immunization is now theoretically preventable through the use of these tools.

Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine↗