TTTS Clinical Trial
Official title:
Neonatales Outcome Nach Intrauteriner Laserablation Mit 1.0mm-Optik Bei Fetofetalem Transfusionssyndrom
Twin-twin transfusion syndrome is one of the most severe complication in monochorionic twin pregnancies and can cause severe impairment of fetal and neonatal outcome. In severe TTTS the fetoscopic laser coagulation is the treatment of choice. Fetoscopic laser coagulation is associated with a morbidity and mortality due to iatronic rupture of membranes as well as iatrogenic placenta insufficiency. This can cause preterm delivery as well as intrauterine fetal demise. An adaption of the fetoscopic tools to reduce the lesions of the amniotic membrane can decrease the risk of PPROM and increase the overall survival.
Twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in approximately 15% of monochorionic
pregnancies. The disease is thought to result from unbalanced intertwin blood flow between
the donor and the recipient twin through placental vascular anastomoses. Untreated, TTTS is
associated with high perinatal mortality and morbidity.
Fetoscopic laser photocoagulation of the vascular anastomoses is currently the best treatment
option for TTTS. The aim of laser surgery is to separate completely both fetal circulations
by occluding all placental vascular anastomoses.
However, at the same time the fetoscopic procedure can cause injury to the amniotic membrane.
This injury will last until childbirth, as the fetal membrane's capability to repair is
restricted. This can lead to preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and in some cases
even to fetal loss.
Decreasing the diameter of fetoscopic instruments can reduce injury to the amniotic membrane.
At University Hospital Halle/Saale a new ultrathin fetoscpoes with 1.0/1.2 mm optic is used
to reduce sheath sectional area from 3.8/4.3 mm (13F) to 2.3mm (7F).
In 2011 the author published a retrospective cohort study of the first results of laser
coagulation using 1.0/1.2 mm optic on 27 female patients. The data was compared to the
results using 2.0 mm optic on 53 female patients. The comparison brought to light that the
survival rate of at least one twin was 97% (compared to 94.4% using classic optic) and 83.3%
(75.5%) for both twins surviving. At the same time the use of the ultrathin optic increased
the length of pregnancy by 21.3 days, increased the recipient's weight by 389g and also the
donor's Apgar score.
On the other hand, donor's weight and recipient's Apgar score remained unchanged. The results
also did not show a decrease in the rate of premature rupture of membranes or a decrease in
re-TTTS.
The Authors expect to show more advantages using a wider sample size. The data will be
analysed adhering to strict quality protocols. This will hopefully allow us to demonstrate
our succesful clinical experience with fetoscopic laser photcoagulation for TTTS using a 1.0
mm endoscope.
A retrospective analyse of all data of patients who underwent fetoscopic laser coagulation
with TTTS will be performed retrospectively. As part of the ongoing quality control the
authors were able to safely store patient data relating to fetoscopic laser coagulation with
TTTS. The plan is to compare results using 1.0/1.2 mm optic with 2.0 mm optic.
Planned study areas inlcude gestational age at birth, the child's survival after fetoscopic
laser coagulation (at least one child survives, both children survive, intrauterine foetal
death of both children), as well as premature rupture of membranes and reoccurrence of TTTS
after the procedure.
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