[Selective feticide in monochorionic twin pregnancies with discordant fetal anomalies: management and outcome]

Objective: To analyze results and outcome after selective feticide for discordant anomalies in monochorionic twins.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Fetal medicine center, Institute for the Care of Mother and Child, Praha.

Methods: Analysis of outcome of monochorionic pregnancies after intrauterine surgery for structural abnormalities between January 2013 and June 2016.

Results: We performed 13 intrauterine operations in monochorionic twins with structural anomalies during the period. There were 12 monochorionic diamniotic and one monochorionic monoamniotic twins. We encountered four cases of Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion sequence (TRAP), six central nervous system lesions, two abdominal wall defects and one heterokaryotypic pregnancy with trisomy 13. In seven cases we performed bipolar cord occlusion, in four cases of TRAP sequence we performed radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We also performed laser photocoagulation of placental anastomoses in a case of gastroschisis complicated with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. One operation was unsuccessful for technical reasons - failing to perform amnioinfusion in a fetus with eventeration and anhydramnios. All procedures were performed in local anesthesia. Fetuses were born between 26 a 41 weeks of gestation (mean 35 weeks; 77% of fetuses were delivered after 32 weeks). Mean neonatal weight 2260 g. We encountered no intrauterine demise of a healthy fetus.

Conclusion: Patients with discordant fetal anomalies in monochorionic twins can be offered a selective feticide via bipolar umbilical cord occlusion or radiofrequency ablation that are proven to be safe and effective.