Objective: To evaluate the clinical effect and safety of umbilical cord ligation in the fetocide of complicated monochorionic multiple gestations.
Methods: From January 2009 to December 2012, clinical data of 18 women with complicated monochorionic multiple gestations who experienced intrauterine percutaneous umbilical cord ligation in Peking University Third Hospital were collected. Among the patients, 6 were selective intrauterine growth restriction (1 with type I, 4 with type II, 1 with type III); 4 were acrania or hydropic twins; 4 were acardiac twins, 2 were complicated triplet gestation; 1 was twin-twin transfusion syndrome with right ventricular dysplasia and 1 was monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) with caesarean section history. The procedure was performed under both endoscopic and sonographic guidance. The gestational age at the time of the procedure were 17-27(+6) weeks. The procedure and perinatal outcome were analyzed.
Results: (1) The procedure was performed successfully in all the 18 cases. The average duration of the procedure was 63 min (24-156 min). The blood loss was 7.6 ml (5-20 ml). The mean gestational age at the time of the procedure was 20 weeks (17-27(+) weeks). The average birth weight of the neonates was 2441 g (1000-3400 g) .(2) There were 206 fetuses survived. Two fetuses had cardiac anomalies and were terminated in the following 2-3 weeks.Intrauterus fetal demise occured in 3 twin reverse arterial perfusion syndrome (TRAP) cases 3-14 weeks after the procedure.1 case delivered as early preterm birth at 28 weeks and the neonate died of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and hypoxie-ischemicen-cephalopathy (HIE) .Fourteen neonates were in healthy and normal development by 3-51 months' follow-up.(3) Fourteen cases delivered at more than 28 weeks (28-38 weeks, averagely 33(+1) weeks). The gestational weeks were prolonged by 5-21 weeks (averagely 13(+4) weeks). Among them, 3 case were early preterm birth (28-33 weeks) and 3 were late preterm birth (34-36 weeks).
Conclusion: Percutaneous umbilical cord ligation is a reliable technique for the fetocide of complicated monochrionic mutilple gestations, especially for monochronic monoamniotic pregnancies.