News

Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Treated by Laser

Some identical twins have vascular connections in the placenta permitting a twin-to-twin blood transfusion. One twin may bleed into the other and one or both of the twins may be permanently damaged or die.

	Health Product Comparison Shopping
Health Aids & Medicines | Nutrition & Vitamins | Fragrance | Cosmetics | Personal Care

Clinical Trial: A trial was done to compare two ways of treating twin-to-twin transfusion One way was serial amnioreduction -- amniocentesis to repeatedly remove large amounts of fluid. The other way was laser therapy -- inserting a fetoscope into the uterus and using a laser to zap the vascular connections between the twins. The laser was "a more effective first-line treatment...for severe twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome...."

Expert Comment In an editorial Nicholas Fisk and Paula Galea from London caution that: "...the widespread adoption of this challenging and difficult procedure by fetal specialists without training in endoscopy and placental vascular anatomy has the potential to do more harm than good."

Our Comment: Amen.