title: Pregnancy and infant outcome of 80 consecutive cord coagulations in complicated monochorionic multiple pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to document pregnancy and infant outcome after cord coagulation with laser and/or bipolar as a technique for selective feticide in complicated monochorionic multiple pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective follow-up study in 2 tertiary fetal medicine centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty cases were included in the study (73 twins, 7 triplets). The survival rate was 83% (72/87). There were 9 intrauterine fetal deaths (10%), 5 within 24 hours and 4 between 4 and 10 weeks after the procedure. There was 1 termination of pregnancy because of chorioamnionitis. Median gestational age at delivery was 35.4 weeks, with 79% of patients delivering after 32 weeks. Preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes before 25 weeks accounted for all perinatal deaths (n = 5). Of the children older than 1 year of age (n = 67), 62 (92%) have a normal development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cord coagulation is an effective method for selective feticide in monochorionic multiple pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: UZ-Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewi
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gratacos
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ortibus
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Schoubroeck
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carreras
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higueras
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perapoch
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deprest
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002823:Chorion; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal / Q000379:methods*; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014310:Triplets; D014427:Twins; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000601:surgery*