Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this report is to document endoscopically the occurrence of unintentional piercing of the dividing membrane in a monochorionic twin pregnancy with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Materials and Methods: The dividing membrane was visualized endoscopically during laser therapy in a patient with TTTS who had previously undergone therapeutic amniocentesis. The donor twin had no visible bladder, but the amniotic fluid volume had normalized after amniocentesis. Results: The suspected membrane perforation was identified endoscopically during laser surgery. Five areas of vascular communications were identified and photocoagulated. Conclusions: Sonographic evidence of normalization of the amniotic fluid volumes after therapeutic amniocentesis with persistent nonvisualization of the bladder of the donor twin should not be interpreted as a sign of improvement of TTTS, but rather as indirect evidence of unintentional perforation of the dividing membrane. This complication can be confirmed endoscopically.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 101-104 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 6 2001 |
Keywords
- Amniocentesis
- Dividing membrane
- Fetoscopy
- Laser therapy
- Twin-twin transfusion syndrome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health