Indications and Complications of Prenatal Invasive Diagnostic Tests: A Retrospective Descriptive Study

Background: Prenatal invasive procedures are used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The present study aimed to assess the indications and early complications of invasive diagnostic tests.Materials and Methods: This retrospective descriptive study was conducted on ۷۰۸ pregnant women who were referred for prenatal invasive tests in Tehran, Iran from May ۲۰۱۸-to April ۲۰۲۲. All medical records of the participants were reviewed and entered into the study. According to the implemented procedures, medical records were categorized into two chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis groups. The primary outcome was determining the frequent indications of invasive diagnostic tests and post-procedure complications. Results: Six hundred and sixty-eight medical records were included. Amniocentesis procedure was performed for ۶۲۴ (۹۳.۷%) and ۴۴ cases (۶.۳%) underwent CVS. The most frequent indication for invasive prenatal procedures was a history of abnormal findings related to the first trimester biomarkers followed by the abnormal findings of the second trimester biochemical markers, a history of high nuchal translucency>۹۹th percentile, and abnormal biomarkers of sequential test. Comparing post-procedure complications, the results showed no significant difference between the CVS and amniocentesis groups (P=۰.۸۴۵). In the amniocentesis group, ۲ cases had shown spontaneous abortion and ۳ leakage of amniotic fluid, as well as two cases in the CVS group, had reported vaginal bleeding. Conclusion: Our results delineated that positive fetal aneuploidy screening tests together with increased nuchal translucency were the main indications of the invasive prenatal tests. Amniotic fluid leakage, vaginal bleeding, and spontaneous abortion should be considered as procedure-related complications.