Fetal Period

  • 10 procedures for assessing fetal status
    1. Ultrasonography
    2. Diagnostic amniocentesis
    3. Alpha-fetoprotein assay
    4. Chorionic villus sampling
    5. Spectrophotometric studies
    6. Sex chromatin patterns
    7. Cell cultures and chromosomal analysis
    8. Fetal transfusion
    9. Fetoscopy
    10. Percutaneous umbilical cord sampling
    11. Magnetic resonance imaging
    12. Fetal heart rate monitoring
  • Twin transfusion syndrome
    • Shunting of arterial blood from one twin through arteriovenous anastomoses into the venous circulation of the other twin, causing the donor twin to be small, pale, and anemic whereas the recipient twin is large and has polycythemia
    • occurs in 10% – 15% of monochorionic diamniotic monozygotic (MZ) twins
    • Death results from anemia in the donor twin and CHF in the recipient twin
    • Treated by fetoscopic laser coagulation of placental vascular anastomoses
Dr. Jeffrey Kalei
Dr. Jeffrey Kalei

Author and illustrator for Hyperexcision. Interested in emergency room medicine. I have a passion for medical education and drawing.

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