Prediction of fetoplacental blood volume in isoimmunized pregnancy

Direct intravascular fetal transfusion under ultrasound guidance allows precise evaluation of both fetal anemia and adequacy of therapy. In addition, the change in hematocrit after transfusion may be used to estimate the circulatory fetoplacental blood volume. In this study we present the estimates of fetoplacental blood volume calculated at the time of intravascular fetal transfusions. Between March 1986 and March 1988, 60 intravascular fetal transfusions were performed in 20 patients. The 56 procedures in which fetal hematocrits were obtained both before and after transfusion were analyzed. The mean fetoplacental blood volume before transfusion was 94.0 ml/kg. Furthermore, the fetoplacental blood volume per kilogram fetal weight decreased with advancing gestation. These estimates of fetoplacental blood volume and changes relative to gestational age may be useful in the treatment of the severely isoimmunized fetus. Reliance on the more recently generated fetoplacental blood volumes may allow more accurate predictions of transfusion volumes and estimation of the hematocrit after transfusion.