Complicated monochorionic twin pregnancies: updates in fetal diagnosis and treatment

Larry Rand1, Hanmin Lee

  • 1Division of Perinatology and Genetics, Fetal Treatment Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. randl@obgyn.ucsf.edu

Monochorionic (MC) twin pregnancies may develop significant complications, and twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) has become among the best known to obstetricians and patients alike. A significant percentage of patients referred for suspected TTTS have a different underlying pathologic condition, however, and differentiating the subcategories of MC pathophysiologic conditions may change treatment course and outcome. The key to understanding complicated MC pregnancies lies in the placental angioarchitecture and intertwin vascular communications between the fetuses.

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management01:19

Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management

The nursing management of Mitral Valve Prolapse, or MVP, centers around patient education, symptom monitoring, and lifestyle modifications.Patient Education on MVP Diagnosis and Heredity: Nurses should provide comprehensive education about MVP, a condition where the mitral valve does not close appropriately during heartbeats. This education often includes the condition's pathophysiology, symptoms, and potential complications, like arrhythmias or mitral regurgitation. Though not fully...