Current method for first and second trimester prenatal diagnosis: transabdominal chorionic villi sampling.
Transabdominal CVS (chorionic villi sampling) was performed in 40 patients belonging to first or second trimester of pregnancy with 97.5% success, using a double and later single needle technique with no immediate complications. Karyotyping by direct method was successful in 75% of samples thus indicating the feasibility of cytogenetic analysis using villus tissue from first and second trimesters of pregnancy. It is a safe, simple, rapid and practical method of prenatal diagnosis in first and second trimesters of pregnancy with a potentially lower risk for fetal and maternal complications.