Transabdominal Selective Fetal Reduction in Multifetal Pregnancy.
- Author:
Jeong Joo MOON
;
Nam Hee LEE
;
Mi Eun JEONG
;
Ji Yeong CHO
;
Chung Hee CHUN
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Selective fetal reduction ( SFR );
Multifetal pregnancy
- MeSH:
Fetus;
Humans;
Incidence;
Infertility;
Ovulation Induction;
Parturition;
Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal*;
Pregnancy*;
Pregnancy, Twin;
Quadruplets;
Quintuplets;
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted;
Triplets;
Twins
- From:Korean Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
1997;40(8):1594-1601
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Over the past 30 years, there has been an increase in the incidence of multifetal pregna-ncies, primarily because of the introduction of ovarian stimulants for ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technology ( ART ) in infertile patients. It is well established that multifetal pregnancies are associated with an increased frequency of the maternal complications and gre-ater perinatal morbidity and mortyality. The adverse outcome of multifetal pregnancies is dire-ctly proportional to the number of fetuses, primarily as an consequence of prterm delivery. Re-duction in the number of fetuses in multifetal pregnancies has been proposed as a way to impr-ove the perinatal outcome in this situation. Therefore, selective fetal reduction ( SFR ) is sugges-ted as a therapeutic option for continuation of pregnancy with fetuses mature enough to survi-ve. In this paper, we report our infertility clinic experiences with 6 patients who carried mult- ifetal pregnancies including 1 quintuplet, 1 quadruplet, and 4 triplets. from January, 1991 to May, 1996, transabdominal SFR was accomplished by fetal intrathoracic KCl injection at 9~10 weeks of gestation. After the prcedure, 4 patients remained as twin pregnancies, and 2 patients as single pregnancy. There have been 3 sets of twin deliveries and the 2 sets of single delivery. One case was aborted. Two patients were delivered after 37 weeks of gestation, 2 patients were at 35 weeks, and 1 patient at 24 weeks. All babies have been healthy after birth in patients after 35 weeks gestation. There was no fetal anomaly related to the procedure in the 6 cases. We concluded that transabdominal SFR is a rather safe and useful procedure that may improve the outcome of multifetal pregnancies.
