Timing of Delivery for Twins With Growth Discordance and Growth Restriction: An Individual Participant Data Meta-analysis.

Objective: First, to evaluate the risks of stillbirth and neonatal death by gestational age in twin pregnancies with different levels of growth discordance and in relation to small for gestational age (SGA), and on this basis to establish optimal gestational ages for delivery. Second, to compare these optimal gestational ages with previously established optimal delivery timing for twin pregnancies not complicated by fetal growth restriction, which, in a previous individual patient meta-analysis, was calculated at 37 0/7 weeks of gestation for dichorionic pregnancies and 36 0/7 weeks for monochorionic pregnancies.

Data Sources: A search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.

A closer look at discordant placental echogenicity: two cases under the microscope.

Discordant placental echogenicity is observed in MC pregnancies complicated with twin anemia-polycythemia sequence, but could also belong to complicated singleton gestation.

Longitudinal Doppler references for monochorionic twins and comparison with singletons.

Objectives: To construct monochorionic (MC) twin-specific longitudinal Doppler references for umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA-PI), middle cerebral artery (MCA) PI and peak systolic velocity (PSV) and ductus venosus (DV) PI derived from a strictly selected cohort of uncomplicated MC twins. The secondary aim of the study was to compare our findings with singleton reference charts.

Methods: A retrospective evaluation was made of all consecutive uncomplicated MC twin pregnancies referred to our Unit from 2010 to 2018.

Incidence of Cerebral Injury in Monochorionic Twin Survivors after Spontaneous Single Demise: Long-Term Outcome of a Large Cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate incidence of cerebral injury and outcome in a large series of monochorionic (MC) twin survivors after spontaneous single fetal demise.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all MC pregnancies with single fetal demise diagnosed at, or referred to, the Fetal Therapy Unit "U. Nicolini," V.

Major Discordant Structural Anomalies in Monochorionic Twins: Spectrum and Outcomes.

Monochorionic twins, resulting from a single fertilized egg giving rise to two separate embryos, are monozygotic and considered genetically identical. However, discordant phenotypes have been reported in monozygotic twins. We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 155 monochorionic pregnancies (312 twins) with major discordant structural anomalies coded by the ICD-10 system in order to describe the spectrum of anomalies, the management of the pregnancies, and the perinatal outcome.

Familial Precocious Fetal Abnormal Cortical Sulcation.

The development of the human cerebral cortex is a complex and precisely programmed process by which alterations may lead to morphological and functional neurological abnormalities. We report familial cases of prenatally diagnosed abnormal brain, characterized by aberrant symmetrical mesial oversulcation of the parietooccipital lobes, in fetuses affected by abnormal skeletal features. Fetal brain anomalies were characterized by prenatal magnetic resonance imaging at 21 weeks of gestation and histologically evaluated at 22 weeks.

Color-dye injection of monochorionic placentas and correlation with pregnancy complications.

Introduction: Vascular anastomoses in monochorionic (MC) twin placenta can be easily identified with color-dye injection. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between different type of anastomoses and twin pregnancy complications.

Methods: From January 2011 to October 2014, MC placentas were analyzed with color-dye injection and five group of pregnancies were identified: those that were not complicated (NC), those complicated with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR), twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), or twin anemia-polycitemia sequence (TAPS) and those with amniotic fluid discordance (AFD) between twins.

Fetoscopic laser coagulation of the vascular equator versus selective coagulation for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: an open-label randomised controlled trial.

Background: Monochorionic twin pregnancies complicated by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome are typically treated with fetoscopic laser coagulation. Postoperative complications can occur due to residual vascular anastomoses on the placenta. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of a novel surgery technique that uses laser coagulation of the entire vascular equator (Solomon technique).

Early diagnosis, follow-up, and prenatal treatment of a case of TRAP sequence occurring in a dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy.

We are reporting a case of twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence occurring in a dichorionic triamniotic triplet pregnancy with successful percutaneous prenatal treatment and excellent neonatal outcome. TRAP sequence was diagnosed at 11 weeks in a spontaneous dichorionic-triamniotic triplet. Sonographic assessment showed persistent arterial flow and development of hydrops in the acardiac twin.

Fetal pleural effusion.

Fetal pleural effusion, a nonspecific accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, is an uncommon anomaly which can be associated with aneuploidy and a range of other structural malformations or genetic syndromes. Spontaneous resolution is not rare and confers a good prognosis. Perinatal outcome is better for those fetuses without hydrops than those presenting with hydrops.

Pulmonary hypertension due to spontaneous premature ductal constriction in fetal life: association with right bundle branch block.

We describe a case of fetal pulmonary hypertension and tricuspid regurgitation due to non pharmacologically induced ductal constriction observed at 36 weeks' gestational age. The hypertension resolved spontaneously soon after birth, with no functional consequences. Right bundle branch block is the only permanent anomaly, still being seen on the electrocardiogram at the age of 34 months.