Intestinal complications after antenatal fetoscopic laser ablation in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome

Laura Saura1, Ma Elena Muñoz, Monsterrat Castañón

  • 1Paediatric Surgery Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain. lsaura@hsjdbcn.org

Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) occurs in 9% of monochorionic twin pregnancies. An imbalanced blood flow across placental vascular communications produces a hypovolemic condition in the donor fetus and hypervolemia in the recipient fetus, leading to a variety of postnatal complications. We report 3 cases of intestinal injury in TTTS after fetoscopic laser ablation of the communicating vessels: 2 cases of intestinal atresia, and 1 case of necrotizing enterocolitis of 1 twin. Intestinal ischemic diseases have been reported after prenatal laser treatment in TTTS; with this report, we add 3 more cases.