Chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis in 2008

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over the past decades there have been wide discrepancies between quoted risks of diagnostic procedures (chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis) yet little properly controlled and randomized data to back often dogmatic assertions. Here, we review the historical and current literature to determine realistic estimates. RECENT FINDINGS: Several papers this past year have addressed in cohort studies and meta-analyses composite risks for both chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. The studies have had varying degrees of reliability and likely reproducibility. SUMMARY: Despite one outlier paper, which had major methodological flaws, the consensus of the modern literature is that in experienced hands there is little to no differences between the procedure risks of amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. The latter, however, is clearly harder to learn and has a steeper learning curve.