Obstetric outcome after fetal reduction to singleton pregnancies
1Unit of Feto-Maternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium. luc.decatte@az.vub.ac.be
Objective:
To study the outcome after fetal reduction or selective termination to singleton pregnancies for various indications.
Methods:
Fetal reduction or selective feticide to singleton pregnancies was performed in 80 multiple gestations (congenital malformations, 17 cases; high-risk obstetric conditions, 25 cases; or social/psychological indications, 38 cases).
Results:
The overall pregnancy loss rate was 10%; however, pregnancy failure was significantly higher in selective reductions performed for preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) (4/8) compared with monochorionic twin and bad obstetric history. Fetal reduction to singletons for psychological reasons resulted in a pregnancy wastage of 5.3% (2/38). Procedures performed at < or =14 weeks showed a significantly lower fetal loss rate (2/61; 3.3%), a higher mean gestational age at delivery (38.3+/-2.2 weeks), and a decreased prematurity rate (p< or =0.001). The number of reduced fetuses, prenatal diagnosis by chorionic villus sampling before the reduction and maternal age did not interfere with pregnancy outcome.
Conclusion:
Fetal reduction to singleton pregnancies has a favorable outcome, especially when performed before 14 weeks of gestation.
