SBA — Single Best Answer · Review
Question 25
Feto-maternal medicine → Perinatology
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
Operator competence
Question Stem
A fetal medicine unit is reviewing competency standards for clinicians performing amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling. What annual procedural volume should an operator ideally perform or supervise to maintain experience?
Options
A
At least 5 procedures
B
At least 10 procedures
C
At least 20 procedures
D
At least 50 procedures
E
At least 100 procedures
Explanation
RCOG recommends that operators performing amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling should ideally undertake or supervise at least 20 procedures annually. Maintaining procedural experience is important because complication rates are influenced by operator training and competence. Units should also monitor local outcomes, including procedure-related pregnancy loss and laboratory culture failure.
Option Validity
A) Five procedures annually is below the volume recommended to maintain procedural experience.
B) Ten procedures annually remains below the RCOG recommendation.
D) Fifty procedures is not the recommended minimum annual figure.
E) An annual volume of 100 procedures is not required.
Further Reading
Navaratnam K, Alfirevic Z; Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling: Green-top Guideline No. 8. BJOG. 2022;129:e1-e15.