Radiofrequency Ablation of Umbilical Cord for Reduction of Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion Sequence: A Case Series and a Literature Review

Background: Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence is a rare disorder of monochorionic twins in which the placental anastomoses results in transitioning the blood from the normal fetus to the acardiac twin by a reversed arterial flow. This study aimed to investigate the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) outcome of the umbilical cord occlusion of acardiac twin to reduce TRAP sequence in monochorionic diamniotic pregnancies.Methods: This prospective study investigated ۲۵ cases of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy with one acardiac fetus and selective reduction by RFA in the second trimester of gestational age in a referral hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, from ۲۰۱۸ to ۲۰۱۹.Results: The mean±SD of gestational age in RFA and delivery were ۲۰.۰±۳.۸ and ۳۵w±۶.۰ days, respectively, with a survival rate of ۸۴%. A total of nine neonates were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, and four miscarriages were recorded in less than ۲۴ weeks. The RFA procedure was successful in all pregnancies for selective termination of the acardiac twin.Conclusion: RFA was a safe and reasonable method in a selective-fetal reduction in acardiac twins for monochorionic pregnancies.  

Keywords:

Fetal Reduction , Radiofrequency Ablation , Twin pregnancy