First‐trimester intervention in twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence: does size matter?

• Published in: Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology 2017-07, Vol.50 (1), p.40-44
• Main Authors: Roethlisberger, M., Strizek, B., Gottschalk, I., Mallmann, M. R., Geipel, A., Gembruch, U., Berg, C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Blood vessels; Catheter Ablation; Crown-Rump Length; Discordance; Feeding; Female; Fetal Development; Fetofetal Transfusion - diagnostic imaging; Fetofetal Transfusion - surgery; fetus; Fetuses; first trimester; Gestation; Gestational age; Health risk assessment; Hemorrhage; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intervention; intrafetal laser; Laser ablation; Membranes; Miscarriage; monochorionic twins; Perfusion; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy, Twin; Retrospective Studies; Rupture; Rupturing; twin reversed arterial perfusion; Twins; Ultrasonography, Prenatal
• ISSN: 0960-7692; 1469-0705
• DOI: 10.1002/uog.16013

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the outcome of first‐trimester intervention (12 + 0 to 14 + 0 weeks of gestation) in pregnancies complicated by twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence. Methods All monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies diagnosed with TRAP sequence that underwent intrafetal laser ablation (IFL) of the feeding vessels before 14 + 0 weeks of gestation at the University of Bonn between 2010 and 2015 were analyzed retrospectively for intrauterine course and outcome. Results In the study period, 12 pregnancies with TRAP sequence were treated by IFL. Median gestational age at intervention was 13.2 (interquartile range (IQR), 12.6–13.6) weeks. In all cases, one intervention sufficed to disrupt the perfusion of the TRAP twin. There was no case of miscarriage, preterm prelabor rupture of membranes or hemorrhage. In five (41.7%) pregnancies, intrauterine death of the pump twin occurred at a median of 72.0 (IQR, 54.0–90.0; range, 48–96) h after intervention. The remaining seven pregnancies continued uneventfully resulting in birth of a healthy infant at term. A comparison of survivors and non‐survivors identified a significant difference in median discordance between crown–rump length (CRL) of the pump twin and upper pole–rump length (URL) of the TRAP twin ((CRL − URL)/CRL ratio, 0.56 vs 0.31; P