ABSTRACT
Objective:To summarize the pregnancy outcome of monochorionic triamniotic (MCTA) triplet pregnancy and its relationship with multifetal pregnancy reduction.Methods:This study retrospectively recruited 23 women with MCTA pregnancy who delivered at Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2020. All 23 cases received regular prenatal examination at our hospital from the first trimester, who were divided into two groups: selective fetal reduction group (randomly reduced one fetus, n=8) and expectant group ( n=15). Pregnancy outcome was described in all participants, differences in maternal age, gestational weeks and outcomes were compared between the two groups. The selective fetal reduction group was further divided into two subgroups: first-trimester vacuum aspiration group ( n=3) and second-trimester radiofrequency ablation group ( n=5), to evaluate the differences in pregnancy outcomes. Two independent samples- t test and Fisher's exact test were used as statistical methods. Results:(1) There was no significant difference in the gestational weeks at the end of the pregnancy [(31.7±4.1) vs (28.8±8.8) weeks], preterm delivery after 32 weeks (9/15 vs 4/8), at least two surviving children (12/15 vs 4/8) and at least one surviving child (13/15 vs 5/8) between the expectant group and the selective fetal reduction group (all P>0.05). One case with twin-twin transfusion syndrome in the expectant group underwent fetoscopic surgery at 19 weeks of gestation and delivered three live infants through cesarean section at 33 +2 weeks due to premature rupture of membranes. One case with twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence at 17 weeks of gestation refused fetal reduction and gave birth to a child at 33 weeks when one fetus's heart stopped beating and one was acardia. (2) The first-trimester vacuum aspiration group and the second-trimester radiofrequency ablation group showed no significant differences in the average gestational weeks at the end of the pregnancy [(28.5±7.6) vs (28.9±10.4) weeks, t=1.145, P>0.05], or the rate of at least one (2/3 vs 3/5, Fisher's exact test, P>0.05) or two surviving children (2/3 vs 2/5, Fisher's exact test, P>0.05). No postoperative infection or amniotic fluid leakage was reported in the subgroups. Conclusions:The pregnancy outcome of MCTA triplet with fetal reduction is not different with expectant group.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To analyze the perinatal outcomes in different methods of multifetal pregnancy reduction in dichorionic triamniotic (DCTA) triplet pregnancy.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on 57 cases of DCTA triplets in Peking University Third Hospital from January 1, 2010 to January 1, 2020, including 27 cases in expectant pregnancy group and 30 cases in selective fetal reduction (FR) group. The selective FR group was further divided into 3 subgroups according to different FR methods:retaining monochorionic dichorionic (MCDA) group, retaining dichorionic dichorionic (DCDA) group, and retaining singleton group. The perinatal outcomes of expectant pregnancy group and 3 subgroups of selective FR group were compared.Results:The gestational weeks in selective FR group was (34.5±5.7) weeks, and full-term delivery rate was 53% (16/30), respectively higher than those of the expectant pregnancy group (29.9±6.0) weeks and 7% (2/27). The miscarriage rate of the selective FR group was 10% (3/30), lower than that of the expectant pregnancy group (33%, 9/27). The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The ratios of pregnancy complications and newborn admission to neonatal ICU (NICU) in the selective FR group were lower than those of the expectant pregnancy group (all P<0.05). In the selective FR group, the gestational weeks in retaining MCDA group (6 cases), retaining DCDA group (13 cases), and retaining singleton group (11 cases) were (32.2±4.3), (33.0±6.3), and (37.4±4.7) weeks; the miscarriage rates were 1/6, 1/13, and 1/11; the premature delivery rates were 4/6, 7/13, and 0/11; the full-term delivery rates were 1/6, 5/13, and 10/11; pregnancies with at least 1 survivor rates were 5/6, 12/13, and 10/11; NICU occupancy rates were 6/8, 9/18 and 0/10, respectively. The retaining singleton group had the highest rate of full-term delivery and the lowest rate of NICU occupancy. Compared with other groups, the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The full-term delivery rate was significantly higher in the retaining DCDA group than that of the expectant pregnancy group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The risk of DCTA triplet pregnancy is high. Reduction of the MCDA pair to singleton has the highest rate of full-term delivery and the lowest rate of NICU occupancy. For pregnant women who wish to retain twin pregnancy, the risk should be fully informed, and consider reduction of one fetus of the MCDA and retaining DCDA twins to continue pregnancy.