Selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of superficial placental anastomoses for the treatment of severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To report our initial institutional experience with fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of placental anastomoses in severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome using a 1.0 mm endoscope. METHODS: Between July 2006 and June 2008, 19 monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies complicated by severe TTTS (Quintero stages III and IV) underwent fetoscopic laser therapy. Perinatal data were prospectively collected and compared according to the Quintero stages. RESULTS: Nine patients were classified as stage III and ten as stage IV. The Mean gestational ages at diagnosis and procedure were 20 (range: 17-25) and 22.0 (range: 19.0-26.0) weeks, respectively, with no statistical difference between the two groups. Preterm premature rupture of the membranes occurred in two cases (10.5%), and spontaneous preterm delivery in eight (42.1%). Overall mean gestational age at delivery was 32.1 (range: 26.0-38.0) weeks. Prematurity was more severe in stage IV patients (p<0.01). Among all cases, the overall survival rate was 52.6%, and the percentages of pregnancies with survival of both babies and at least one twin were 26.3% and 78.9%, respectively. In the case of stage III patients, the overall survival rate was 61.1%. Of the stage III pregnancies, 33.3% resulted in both babies surviving, and 88.9% of these pregnancies resulted in at least one surviving twin. For stage IV, as the corresponding statistics were 45.0%, 20.0% and 70.0% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our initial institutional experience with 1.0 mm fetoscopic laser therapy for severe TTTS showed results similar to those reported in the literature for larger endoscopes

Renal tubular dysgenesis with hypocalvaria and ileocecal valve agenesis: an autopsy report

Renal tubular dysgenesis (RTD) is a rare, lethal, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by non-differentiation of the renal proximal convoluted tubules, resulting in oligohydramnios. It is usually diagnosed in the second trimester of pregnancy, following the oligohydramnios sequence, pulmonary hypoplasia and hypocalvaria. The prognosis is poor, and death usually occurs in utero or within the first few days of life. The pathogenesis of RTD is associated with the perinatal use of drugs, such as angiotensin- converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and anti- inflammatory drugs, as well as with fetal transfusion syndrome, genetic mutations in the pathway of the renin-angiotensin system pathway, cocaine snorting, or other pathological mechanisms that reduce renal blood flow. Here, we report the autopsy of a neonate born to consanguineous parents at 38 weeks of gestation, with RTD, decreased amniotic fluid, oligohydramnios sequence, hypocalvaria, pulmonary hypoplasia, and ileocecal valve agenesis. To our knowledge, the latter has never been reported associated with RTD

Longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters in twin pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 200 uncomplicated twin pregnancies before 21 weeks of gestation were recruited for this prospective, longitudinal study. Women who abandoned follow-up, pregnancies with unknown outcomes or pregnancies with complications were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed every three weeks, and biparietal and occipitofrontal diameters, head and abdominal circumferences, and femur diaphysis length measurements were obtained for each fetus at each visit. Estimated fetal weight, biparietal/occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference/abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length/abdominal circumference ratios were also calculated. Multilevel regression analysis was performed on normalized data. RESULTS: A total of 807 ultrasound examinations were performed in 125 twin pregnancies between 14 and 38 weeks of gestation (6.5±1.4 scans/pregnancy). Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations for all variables with gestational age, namely log of the biparietal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the occipitofrontal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the head circumference (r = 0.99), log of the abdominal circumference (r = 0.98), square root of the femur length (r = 0.99), log of the estimated fetal weight (r = 0.99), biparietal/occipitofrontal ratio (r = -0.11), head/abdomen circumference ratio (r = -0.56), and log of the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (r = 0.61). Values corresponding to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for estimated fetal weight at 28, 32, and 36 weeks, respectively, were as follows: 937, 1,096, 1,284 g; 1,462, 1,720, 2,025 g; and 2,020, 2,399, 2,849 g. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters show a significant correlation with gestational age

Conjoined twins and legal authorization for abortion

OBJETIVO: Descrever casos de gravidez de gêmeos unidos de acordo com a solicitação de autorização judicial para interrupção gravidez. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva das gestações de gêmeos unidos, sem possibilidade de sobrevida extrauterina ou de separação cirúrgica pós-natal, atendidos em um hospital terciário, entre 1998 e 2010. RESULTADOS: Entre 30 casos observados durante o período do estudo, seis (20,0%) casais decidiram continuar com a gravidez, e, em cinco (16,7%) casos, a autorização para interrupção da gestação não foi solicitada devido à idade gestacional avançada (&gt; 25 semanas). A autorização para interromper a gravidez foi solicitada em 19 (63,3%) casos: a permissão foi concedida em 12 (63,2%), indeferida em cinco (26,3%), e não se teve a informação do resultado em dois (10,5%) casos. Nos casos submetidos à interrupção legal da gestação, o parto vaginal foi realizado em 83,3%, e no grupo em que a autorização não foi concedida, a cesárea foi realizada em todos os casos (p < 0,01). CONCLUSÃO: A solicitação da autorização judicial para o aborto é uma alternativa na gravidez de gêmeos unidos sem prognóstico de sobrevida pós-natal. Além disso, o sucesso de um parto vaginal pode ser obtido na maioria dos casos antes do terceiro trimestre, reduzindo os riscos à saúde da mulher e o sofrimento do casal.OBJECTIVE: To describe pregnancies with conjoined twins according to the request for legal termination of pregnancy. METHODS: Retrospective review of pregnancies with conjoined twins, with no possibility of extrauterine survival or postnatal surgical separation, observed at a tertiary teaching hospital, between 1998 and 2010. RESULTS: Amongst 30 cases seen during the study period, six (20.0%) couples decided to continue with the pregnancy, termination of pregnancy was not requested due to advanced gestational age (&gt; 25weeks) in 5 cases (16.7%). Legal authorization to terminate the pregnancy was requested in 19 (63.3%) cases: permission was granted in 12 (63.2%), denied in five (26.3%) and information was missing in two (10.5%) cases. A successful vaginal delivery was performed in 83.3% of the cases undergoing termination of pregnancy and a cesarean section was performed in all the remaining cases (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In pregnancies with conjoined twins and without fetal prognosis, legal termination of the pregnancy is an alternative. Moreover, a successful vaginal delivery can be performed in most cases before the third trimester, further reducing maternal risks and parental suffering

Maternal postpartum complications according to delivery mode in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine maternal postpartum complications of twin deliveries according to mode of delivery and investigate the associated risk factors. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort review of twin pregnancies with delivery after 26 weeks at a tertiary teaching hospital (1993-2008). The rates of maternal postpartum complications were compared among vaginal, elective cesarean and emergency cesarean deliveries. Significant predictors of complications were investigated with stepwise regression analysis and relative risks were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 90 complications were observed in 56/817 (6.9%) deliveries: 7/131 (5.3%) vaginal, 10/251 (4.0%) elective cesarean and 39/435 (9.0%) emergency cesarean deliveries. Significant predictors included high-risk pregnancy, gestational age at birth and delivery mode. The occurrence of complications was significantly increased in emergency compared to elective cesarean deliveries (RR = 2.34). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal postpartum complications in twin pregnancies are higher in emergency compared to elective cesarean deliveries and are also related to preexisting complications and earlier gestational age at delivery

Fetal growth according to different reference ranges in twin pregnancies with placental insufficiency

The aim of this study was to compare different fetal growth curves in twin pregnancies with severe placental insufficiency. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 47 twin pregnancies with absent or reverse end diastolic flow in the umbilical artery of one fetus was performed. Pregnancies with major fetal abnormalities, twin-twin transfusion or three or more fetuses were not included. The estimated fetal weight zeta-scores were calculated for both fetuses (abnormal Doppler and co-twin) according to the following criteria: Hadlock, Liao and Araújo. The abdominal circumference zeta-scores were calculated according to Hadlock, Liao, Araújo, Ong and Stirrup. The mean estimates of the zeta-score values were calculated using generalized estimating equation regression analysis. The mean gestational age at inclusion was 27.4±4.7 weeks. The fetal sex and the interaction Doppler findings × criteria correlated significantly with the zeta-score values (

Second-trimester soft markers: relation to first-trimester nuchal translucency in unaffected pregnancies

Objective Genetic sonography following first-trimester combined screening appears to increase substantially detection rates for Down syndrome but it relies on the unproved assumption of independence between these tests. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between first-trimester nuchal translucency (NT) and a series of second-trimester soft markers and structural defects in unaffected pregnancies. Methods NT measurement in the first trimester was followed by second-trimester scan (18 to 23 + 6 weeks) including examination for three categorical markers (intracardiac echogenic foci, hyperechogenic bowel and structural defects) and measurement of nasal bone length, nuchal-fold thickness, femur length, humerus length, renal pelvis diameter and prenasal thickness. All continuous variables were expressed in multiples of the median (MoM) for gestation and correlation coefficients between log-transformed NT and second-trimester variables were calculated. In addition, frequencies of soft markers and structural defects in cases with increased NT were compared to those with normal NT, using MoM cut-offs. Results In a dataset of 1970 cases, NT was significantly correlated (P &lt; 0.05) with all second-trimester continuous variables, the correlation being strongest for nuchal-fold thickness (r = 0.10). There was a higher frequency of cases with second-trimester nuchal-fold thickness above the 97.5th centile (10.7 vs. 2.2%) and hyperechogenic bowel (2.4 vs. 0.1%) in cases with increased NT. Conclusions Straightforward reassessment of risk using likelihood ratios derived from the second-trimester genetic sonogram might lead to inaccurate estimates. Multivariate models using continuous second-trimester variables might be preferable in sequential screening strategies. Copyright. 2012 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry in twin pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to establish longitudinal reference ranges for fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters in twin pregnancies. METHOD: A total of 200 uncomplicated twin pregnancies before 21 weeks of gestation were recruited for this prospective, longitudinal study. Women who abandoned follow-up, pregnancies with unknown outcomes or pregnancies with complications were excluded. Ultrasound scans were performed every three weeks, and biparietal and occipitofrontal diameters, head and abdominal circumferences, and femur diaphysis length measurements were obtained for each fetus at each visit. Estimated fetal weight, biparietal/occipitofrontal diameter, head circumference/abdominal circumference, and femur diaphysis length/abdominal circumference ratios were also calculated. Multilevel regression analysis was performed on normalized data. RESULTS: A total of 807 ultrasound examinations were performed in 125 twin pregnancies between 14 and 38 weeks of gestation (6.5 +/- 1.4 scans/pregnancy). Regression analysis demonstrated significant correlations for all variables with gestational age, namely log of the biparietal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the occipitofrontal diameter (r = 0.98), log of the head circumference (r = 0.99), log of the abdominal circumference (r = 0.98), square root of the femur length (r = 0.99), log of the estimated fetal weight (r = 0.99), biparietal/occipitofrontal ratio (r = -0.11), head/abdomen circumference ratio (r = -0.56), and log of the femur length/abdominal circumference ratio (r = 0.61). Values corresponding to the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles for estimated fetal weight at 28, 32, and 36 weeks, respectively, were as follows: 937, 1,096, 1,284 g; 1,462, 1,720, 2,025 g; and 2,020, 2,399, 2,849 g. CONCLUSION: In twin pregnancies, fetal ultrasound biometry measurements and growth parameters show a significant correlation with gestational age

Screening for pre-eclampsia by transvaginal uterine artery Doppler at 11-13 and 20-24 weeks gestation

Estudo realizado na Clínica Obstétrica da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, com seiscentos e quarenta e cinco gestantes recrutadas, prospectivamente, para avaliações dopplervelocimétricas das artérias uterinas, por via endovaginal, entre 11 e 13+6 semanas e entre 20 e 24+6 semanas. A partir de um grupo de 344 casos com desfecho normal da gestação, valores de referências para os índices dopplervelocimétricos médios foram estabelecidos, e estes foram significativamente maiores na primeira avaliação do que na segunda. Além disso, os valores se correlacionaram de forma positiva e significativa (IP r= 0,42, IR r= 0,42, AB r= 0,29, p<0,0001). Incisura uterina bilateral foi encontrada em 43,9% dos casos no primeiro exame e 4,4% na segunda etapa. Também foram descritos os valores de sensibilidade, especificidade, valores preditivos, razão de verossimilhança e risco relativo de diferentes parâmetros dopplervelocimétricos para predição da pré-eclâmpsia, diagnosticada em 25 casos. Entre 11 e 13 sem. + 6 dias, as áreas sob as curvas de caracterísiticas operacionais dos três índices dopplervelocimétricos foram de 0,51. A maioria dos achados dopplervelocimétricos, nesta fase da gestação, não identificou gestações com risco significativamente aumentado para pré-eclâmpsia. Já, entre 20 e 24 sem. + 6 dias, as áreas sob as curvas de características operacionais foram maiores (IP= 0,66, IR= 0,65, AB= 0,65) e o grupo com índices dopplervelocimétricos acima do percentil 85 e/ou incisura bilateral apresentou risco significativamente aumentado, para o posterior surgimento de pré-eclâmpsia na gestação. Entretanto, a sensibilidade e o valor preditivo positivo foram baixos, e não encorajam o uso desse método para predição da doença hipertensiva específica da gestação em nossa população.At São Paulo University Medical School, six hundred and forty five pregnant women were prospectively recruited for a longitudinal study involving transvaginal uterine artery Doppler assessment at 11?13+6 weeks and 20?24+6 weeks. Reference values for mean uterine artery Doppler indices were established from 344 cases with normal pregnancy outcome. Values found in the first examination were significantly higher and positively correlated to values obtained in the second examination (PI r= 0.42, RI r= 0.42, SD r= 0.29, p<0.0001). Bilateral notches were found in 43.9% of the cases examined between 11 and 13 weeks, and 4.4% of the cases in the second assessment. Twenty-five cases subsequently developed pre-eclampsia. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, likelihood ratios and relative risks were calculated for various uterine artery Doppler findings. Between 11 and 13+6 weeks, the ROC curve area was 0.51 for all three indices. At this stage, most uterine artery Doppler findings were not associated with increased risk of pre-eclampsia. At 20 to 20+6 weeks, ROC curve areas were higher (PI= 0.66, RI= 0.65, SD= 0.65) and increased impedance to flow (above the 85th centile) and/or bilateral notches were associated with a significant increase of the risk for the subsequent development of pre-eclampsia. However low sensitivity and positive predictive values do not support this as a screening method for pre-eclampsia in our population