Intrauterine treatment for an acardiac twin with alcohol injection into the umbilical artery

• Published in: The journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research 2002-04, Vol.28 (2), p.76-79
• Main Authors: Tongsong, Theera, Wanapirak, Chanane, Sirichotiyakul, Supatra, Chanprapaph, Pharuhas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acardiac twin; Adult; alcoholization; Diseases in Twins; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Ethanol - administration & dosage; Female; Gestational Age; Heart Defects, Congenital - drug therapy; Heart Defects, Congenital - physiopathology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Injections, Intra-Arterial; intrauterine treatment; Obstetric Labor, Premature; Pregnancy; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Umbilical Arteries
• ISSN: 1341-8076; 1447-0756
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1341-8076.2002.00017.x

An acardiac twin is a unique complication of monochorionic twinning, in which a normal pump twin perfuses the acardiac twin. The mortality rate of the pump twin is greater than 50%. Herein we present the successful treatment of an acardiac twin with alcoholization as follows. An acardiac twin was diagnosed at 24 weeks gestation. Circulation interruption of the acardiac twin was successfully achieved by injection of absolute alcohol (5 mL) into the intra‐abdominal umbilical artery. Serial ultrasound after the procedure revealed normal growth of the pump twin, whereas the acardiac twin was shrinking. Spontaneous premature delivery at 34 weeks gestation resulted in a normal surviving female baby weighing 2410 g and an acardiac female fetus weighing 300 g. This experience suggests that this simple technique may be an alternative treatment for an acardiac twin.