Resumen

VALDES ABREU, Manuela de la C.; DIAZ MARTINEZ, Ana Gloria; DALMAU DIAZ, Aníbal  y  DOMINGUEZ, Inés. Amniocentesis as a technique for prenatal diagnosis. Rev Cubana Obstet Ginecol [online]. 1997, vol.23, n.2, pp. 67-74. ISSN 1561-3062.

An update theorical review is made on the thecnique of amniocentesis used from 1882 for the prenatal diagnosis of a great deal of congenital anomalies taking into account the information obtained from the databases MEDLINE, LILACS, and the Cuban Literature of Medicine from 1988 to 1994, found in the information services of the National System for Information on Medical Sciences. The general procedures for the application of this technique, the risks involved and benefits, are reported, as well as the different variants of amniocentesis available according to the gestation week in which it is performed. The four types of laboratory analysis which are applied to the different components of the amniotic fluid are also reported. It is concluded that despite being a very complex technique having an obstetric risk, it is very useful for the early diagnosis of certain anomalies.

Palabras clave : AMNIOCENTESIS [methods]; PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS [methods]; RISK; AMNIOTIC FLUID [chemistry]; ABNORMALITIES [diagnosis].