Aim: This study aimed to clarify the feasibility and perinatal outcomes of fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for monochorionic twin gestation with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) accompanied by both abnormal umbilical artery Doppler waveforms and isolated severe oligohydramnios of the sIUGR twin.
Methods: In this prospective clinical trial, which included 10 cases with absent or reversed end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery and severe oligohydramnios of the sIUGR twin, the main outcomes investigated were the feasibility of FLP and the rate of severe FLP-related maternal complications. The survival rate and incidence of neurological abnormalities of the twins at 28 days of age were also evaluated.
Results: FLP was completed for all cases without major intraoperative maternal complications, although one case experienced threatened preterm labor requiring intensive treatment after the procedure. Three sIUGR and 10 larger twins were alive without neurological abnormalities at 28 days of age, while intrauterine fetal death occurred in the remaining seven sIUGR twins.
Conclusion: FLP for monochorionic twins with sIUGR, especially when accompanied by abnormal Doppler and severe oligohydramnios of the sIUGR twin, appears to be feasible and potentially beneficial for the larger twin, as well as for some sIUGR twins.
Keywords: fetal therapy; laser therapy; monochorionic twin; multiple gestation; oligohydramnios; selective intrauterine growth restriction.
© 2015 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.