Twin reduction in the mare: current options.
Twin pregnancy in the mare causes economic loss. Early transrectal ultrasonographic detection of twins and manual crush of one embryonic vesicle is the method of choice for managing equine twins (90% success rate). Transcutaneous and transvaginal ultrasound-guided twin reduction techniques are described for twin pregnancies that advance beyond 25 days of gestation. Reported success rates for the ultrasound-guided procedures are 50% and 20%, respectively.
Macpherson
M L
ML
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA. macphersonm@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu
Reimer
J M
JM
D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / Q000662:veterinary*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D014427:Twins; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000662:veterinary; D014599:Uterus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging