Perinatal outcome following intravascular transfusion in severely isoimmunized fetuses

Twenty-six severely isoimmunized pregnancies managed exclusively with ultrasonographically guided intravascular fetal transfusions are reported. The mean gestational age plus and minus one standard deviationy (±SD) was 26.3 ± 3.6 weeks and the mean hematocrit (±SD) prior to initial transfusion was 20.6 ± 6.7%. Four of seven hydropic fetuses and 9 of 19 without hydrops were ≤ 26 weeks gestation at the first transfusion. Overall survival was 85% ( 22 26). Survival was similar whether or not fetal hydrops was present ( 6 7 vs. 16 19) and whether or not the first transfusion was administered at ≤26 weeks gestation ( 10 13 vs. 12 13).