Outcomes of patients with twin-twin transfusion syndrome: a report of 71 cases

Objective To summarize the treatments and perinatal outcomes of patients with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS).Methods Seventy one cases of TTTS hospitalized in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1,2007 to December 31,2012 were included into the study.They were treated with expectant therapy,amnioreduction,laser surgery or selective fetal reduction.The relationship between outcomes and different staging or treatment procedures of these cases were retrospectively analyzed,and the differences were compared by analysis of variances,Chi-square test and nonparametric test.Results Twenty-five cases received expectant treatment.The rate that at least one baby survived more than 30 days was 32％ (8/25),and 5/15 of the live babies had neonatal brain injury.Sixteen cases received amnioreduction,of which the rate that at least one baby survived more than 30 days was 4/16,and 3/15 of the live babies had brain injury.Twenty-five cases received fetoscopic laser coagulation of vascular anastomoses.The rate that at least one baby survived more than 30 days was 60％ (15/25),which was higher than that of the expectant group and amnioreduction group (x2=4.938,P=0.045 and x2=5.056,P=0.043) ; the brain injury rate among the live babies was 7％ (2/28),which was lower than that of the expectant group (x2=4.702,P=0.040),but similar to the amnioreduction group (x2=1.490,P=0.320).Five patients received selective fetal reduction operation.Among which,one received fetoscopic cord ligation and delivered one healthy baby; the other four cases received radio frequency ablation,after which one was aborted and three delivered at full term.The rate that at least one baby survived more than 30 days was 12/18 in 18 cases with stage Ⅰ TTTS,which was better than that in stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ (4/17 and 6/18) (x2=4.933 and 2.778,both P＜0.05).The rate that at least one baby survived more than 30 days in stage Ⅳ cases was only half of that in stage Ⅰ (6/18 vs 12/18),and the brain injury rate among the live babies was 4/12,similar to that in stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ [16％ (4/25),0/14 and 2/11,x2=5.361,P=0.118].Conclusion The prognosis of TTTS is very poor,early diagnosis and early treatment could improve the outcomes.Fetoscopic laser coagulation ensures a relatively higher survival rate and low brain injury rate for TTTS. Key words: Fetofetal transfusion;  Pregnancy outcome;  Fetoscopy;  Laser coagulation