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Monoamniotic twins pregnancy complicated by a fetal congenital heart defect – a challenge for perinatal decisions

  • Monika Pasieczna ORCID logo , Joanna Kuran-Ohde , Anna Kajdy ORCID logo , Dagmara Filipecka-Tyczka ORCID logo , Natalia Świątek and Joanna Szymkiewicz-Dangel ORCID logo
Published/Copyright: October 23, 2020

Abstract

Objectives

To analyze pregnancy management and postnatal follow-up in monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) pregnancies complicated by a congenital heart defect (CHD) in one twin and to compare the results with current recommendations concerning time and mode of delivery in MCMA pregnancies.

Cases presentation

Perinatal medical records of five pairs of monoamniotic twins referred to Fetal Cardiology Department were analyzed. 5 out of 23 MCMA pregnancies (21.7%) were complicated by CHD in one fetus. Cesarean section (CS) was performed between 32 and 35 weeks of gestation (WoG). 9 out of 10 neonates had respiratory failure, including all patients with CHD. Twins without congenital abnormalities spent median 21 days (range 10–40 days) in neonatal units. Patients with CHD were transferred to cardiology departments on average 6th day of life. All were operated on later than term-born neonates, 4 out of 5 required stage surgery and their median stay in the hospital was 75 days (range 48–106 days).

Conclusions

According to current recommendations, delivery in MCMA pregnancies should be scheduled at 32–34 weeks. In cases complicated by CHD in one twin, such early delivery complicates surgical treatment and may affect the final outcome. Low body weight and respiratory disorders increase the risk of complications in the perioperative period and prolong hospitalization.


Corresponding author: Monika Pasieczna, MD, 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Karowa Street 2, 00-315, Warsaw, Poland, E-mail:

  1. Research funding: None declared.

  2. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  4. Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.

  5. Ethical approval: The Ethical Committee of the Medical University of Warsaw approved the study.

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Received: 2020-03-18
Accepted: 2020-09-18
Published Online: 2020-10-23

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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