title: Failure of amniotic septostomy in the management of 3 subsequent cases of severe previable twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Amniotic septostomy has been described as a method to treat twin-twin transfusion syndrome. A case report of 3 patients treated in this way is described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three subsequent patients, who presented with twin-twin transfusion syndrome, were treated by amniotic septostomy. All 3 showed initial improvement in the amniotic fluid volume and mobility of the donor fetus. However, all three pregnancies were lost within 5 days of the amniotic septostomy due to ruptured membranes and premature labour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our experience, amniotic septostomy did not improve the pregnancy outcome in twin-twin transfusion syndrome. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Pistorius
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Howarth
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D013513:Obstetric Surgical Procedures; D011247:Pregnancy; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014463:Ultrasonography