Prediction of neonatal outcome of TTTS by fetal heart and Doppler ultrasound parameters before and after laser treatment

Prenat Diagn. 2016 Dec;36(13):1199-1205. doi: 10.1002/pd.4956. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prognostic value of fetal Doppler and echocardiographic parameters for neonatal survival up to 30 days after laser coagulation in monochorionic pregnancies complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).

Methods: Fetal echocardiography and outcome data of consecutive cases of TTTS treated by laser were retrospectively reviewed. Hemodynamic and cardiac function parameters were collected before and after laser.

Results: Between February 2006 and January 2015, 106 fetoscopic laser were performed. The final analysis was limited to cases with ultrasound within 2 days before laser (n = 77) and 4 weeks after laser (n = 86). Overall neonatal survival rate was 64.9% (135/208) and 77.9% of pregnancies (81/104) had at least one baby alive. For the recipient twin, the preoperative predictors of neonatal survival were umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI), cerebro-placental PI ratio, UA end diastolic flow (EDF), ductus venosus a-wave, right ventricular myocardial performance index (RV-MPI) and CHOP score. The postoperative predictors of donor survival were donor RV-MPI and recipient UA EDF, umbilical vein pulsations, tricuspid regurgitation, cardiac hypertrophy and CHOP score.

Conclusion: The hemodynamic predictors of postnatal survival after laser were preoperative signs of recipient cardiomyopathy and postoperative signs of cardiac overload in both twins. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

MeSH terms

  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Fetal Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetal Heart / physiopathology
  • Fetofetal Transfusion / diagnostic imaging*
  • Fetofetal Transfusion / mortality
  • Fetofetal Transfusion / surgery*
  • Fetoscopy
  • Gestational Age
  • Humans
  • Laser Coagulation*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prognosis
  • Pulsatile Flow
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Twins*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*
  • Umbilical Arteries / physiopathology