A complication of fetal scalp blood sampling

THE TECH NIQu E of fetal scalp blood sampling was first described by Salin& in 1962. Since then numerous reports have appeared in the literature using this procedure in the evaluation of fetal distress during labor. An excellent symposium2 appeared in 1968 assessing the role of fetal scalp blood sampling in modern-day obstetrics. In a recent article, Balfour and associates3 reveiwed the complications of this procedure. In general, complications have been extremely rare and fall into two categories, i.e., hemorrhage or infection at the site of the stab wound. Recently we have encountered a complication, which has not yet been reported in the literature. It is the purpose of this brief communication to report the complication of having the exposed part of the blade break off in the fetal scalp at the time of making the stab wound. We have the standard set of instruments of the Queen Charlotte’s Hospital4 and use the same technique of fetal blood collection as described by Morris and Beard,4 except that we use the thick-walled heparinized glass tubes rather than the polyethylene tubing for blood collection. The glass tubes and the blades are gas sterilized prior to use. At the time we encountered the complication, the cervix was completely dilated and the station of the head was approximately plus two. In the particular patient in question, we met with Fig. 1. Initial roentgenogram. Arrow points to the tips of two blades which broke off in the fetal scalp.