Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Accurate and Simple Evaluation of Vascular Anastomoses in Monochorionic Placenta using Colored Dye
Published on: September 5, 2011
Intrauterine transfusion combined with partial exchange transfusion for twin anemia polycythemia sequence: modeling a
F Slaghekke1, J P H M van den Wijngaard2, J Akkermans1
1Division of Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) is a newly described disease in monochorionic twin pregnancies, characterized by large inter-twin hemoglobin differences. Optimal management for TAPS is not clear. One of the possible treatment modalities is intrauterine blood transfusion (IUT) in the donor with or without combination of partial exchange transfusion (PET) in the recipient.
Methods:
We applied a computational model simulation to illustrate the mechanism of IUT with and without PET in TAPS occurring after laser surgery for twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Model simulations were performed with the representative anastomotic pattern as observed during laser intervention, and after placental dye injection.
Results:
The model was tested against different cases where IUT was combined with PET for the treatment of post-laser TAPS. Model simulations using the observed anastomotic pattern showed a significant reduction of hyperviscosity in the recipient after IUT/PET compared to IUT without PET.
Discussion:
In this model simulation we show that the addition of PET to IUT reduces the severity of polycythemia in the recipient. PET may thus be important to prevent complications of hyperviscosity.
Conclusion:
This model simulation shows the beneficial effect of PET for the recipient in TAPS cases treated with IUT.
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09:04Guide Wire Assisted Catheterization and Colored Dye Injection for Vascular Mapping of Monochorionic Twin Placentas
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