Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of 167 children after intrauterine laser treatment for severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate long-term neurodevelopmental outcome of children born after intrauterine laser coagulation for severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome.


METHODS
One hundred sixty-seven surviving infants treated between June 1997 and September 1999 were investigated at a median age of 3 years and 2 months. All children underwent a detailed standardized physical and neurologic examination and a standardized developmental test (Griffiths' Developmental Test Scales and Snijders-Oomen Non-Verbal-Intelligence Test).


RESULTS
One hundred forty-five infants (86.8%) showed normal development, 12 infants (7.2%) showed minor neurologic abnormalities, and 10 infants (6.0%) major neurologic abnormalities. There was no difference in outcome for the former donors/recipients (P = .349) and between infants who were born as twins or singletons (P = .088).


CONCLUSIONS
With a high rate (86.8%) of normal neurodevelopmental outcome and an incidence of only 6.0% of major neurologic deficiencies, intrauterine laser coagulation seems to be the best treatment option for severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
Graef
Cornelia
C
Department of Neonatology, Universitiy Childrens' Hospital, Bonn, Germany.
Ellenrieder
Birte
B
Hecher
Kurt
K
Hackeloer
Bernhard J
BJ
Huber
Agnes
A
Bartmann
Peter
P
D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D046128:Fetal Therapies; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second