title: Acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation on recipient cardiac function in twin-twin transfusion syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated the acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) on recipient cardiovascular function in a twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective chart review of echocardiographic data in TTTS including right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI); LV and RV end diastolic wall thickness; and umbilical artery (UA), vein (UV), and ductus venosus (DV) Dopplers. The primary outcome measures were improved MPI defined as greater than 10% interval decrease in left and/or right MPI. Data were analyzed by Student t test and Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-five patients met inclusion criteria. SFLP results in a significant improvement in UV and DV Doppler and an increase in both RV and LV wall thickness. A 10% or greater improvement in recipient LV MPI after SFLP is associated with improved recipient survival as compared with unimproved LV MPI (100% vs 86.1%, P = .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improved recipient myocardial performance index after SFLP is associated with improvement in recipient survival.
authors: Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA.
authors: Mounira
authors: M
authors: Habli
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Michelfelder
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Livingston
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Harmon
authors: Foong Yen
authors: FY
authors: Lim
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Polzin
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Crombleholme
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005330:Fetofetal Transfusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005332:Fetoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014690:Venous Pressure; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D016278:Ventricular Function, Right