Intrauterine transfusion. Safeguard or peril?

Questions have been raised whether intrauterine transfusion (IUT) results in a better survival rate than premature delivery and intensive newborn care. A 20% mortality for each IUT seems the basis for the query. Our method of IUT is described which resulted in 75% survival in nonhydropic babies overall with a 3.6% mortality for each IUT. In the last 5 years the survivors were 84.6% with a mortality rate of 2.2% for each IUT. The results in hydropic babies are poor. Intrauterine transfusion by our method permits delivery of a more mature baby requiring much shorter hospitalization and reduced costs.