Fetoscopy-guided bipolar cord coagulation in selective fetal reduction with complicated monochorionic diamniotic twins: a prospective cohort study

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022 Dec;35(25):7744-7747. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1961725. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the feasibility of fetoscopy-guided bipolar umbilical cord coagulation for selective fetal reduction in complicated monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies.

Methods: MCDA twins undergoing fetoscopy-guided bipolar cord coagulation (BCC) were enrolled prospectively between December 2015 to March 2020 in a fetal medicine center.

Results: Twenty-three cases undergoing fetoscopy-guided BCC were finally analyzed, including 11 cases for type 2 selective intrauterine growth restriction, 4 cases for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and 8 cases for a severe discordant anomaly. The overall survival rate was 78.3% (18/23).

Conclusions: Fetoscopy-guided BCC is effective for selective fetal reduction in complicated monochorionic twin pregnancies.

Keywords: Fetoscopy; bipolar cord coagulation; fetal reduction; monochorionic diamniotic; twin pregnancy.

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation
  • Fetofetal Transfusion* / surgery
  • Fetoscopy*
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal
  • Pregnancy, Twin
  • Prospective Studies
  • Twins, Monozygotic