[Pregnancy follow-up of a twin pregnancy with acardius acephalus]

Beginning with the 20th week of gestation a monoamniotic twin pregnancy with acardius acephalus was intensively observed by ultrasound and doppler ultrasound. The acardius only grew until the 24th week of gestation; the fetus underwent a normal development during the entire pregnancy. Doppler ultrasound showed low resistance indices in both umbilical arteries. During the 24th week of gestation the flow in the umbilical artery of the acardius could no longer be registered due to a cessation of development. A normal flow could be registered from the 28th week of gestation until the end of pregnancy in the umbilical artery, aorta fetalis and the art. cerebri med. of the fetus. During the 36th week of gestation the fetus died because of umbilical cord entanglement with the cord of the acardius.