Objective To assess the neurodevelopmental functions of survivors of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) treated by fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC), during the first year of life, comparing them to a control group; and to verify the influence of specific variables on neurodevelopment. Method This was a prospective, longitudinal study. The sample comprised 33 monochorionic diamniotic twins who underwent FLC for treatment of TTTS and 22 full-term infants of single-fetus pregnancies. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development Screening Test were used for evaluation. Prenatal, perinatal and postnatal information were obtained. Results There was an increased frequency of infants in the TTTS group with inadequate performance compared to the control group. The identified variables (fetal donor, low economic income and cardiorespiratory disease) negatively impacted expressive communication and fine motor skills. Conclusion Although through follow-up is recommended in all TTTS survivors, particular attention is required for the high-risk group as defined in this study.
Objectives: To describe the results of a technique of laser ablation of placental vessels in the treatment of severe twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which is characterized by separation of the fetoplacental vascular territories and dichorionization of the placenta. Patients and Methods: Descriptive analysis of TTTS cases treated with the endoscopic laser dichorionization of the placenta (ELDP) procedure. The variables evaluated were the occurrence of reversal of the donor-recipient phenotype, persistence of TTTS or twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS); gestational age at delivery; discharge from the hospital of at least 1 or 2 live neonates, and incidence of neurological alterations among survivors. Results: 67 patients were treated with the ELDP procedure. There was no persistence of TTTS, reversal of the donor-recipient phenotype or TAPS. The median gestational age at delivery was 33.0 (23.6-37.7) weeks. The rate of discharge from the hospital of at least 1 or 2 live neonates was 88.2% (67/76) and 71.1% (54/76), respectively. Among survivors, 17 (17/121 = 14.0%) children presented with neurodevelopmental alterations during clinical follow-up. Conclusions: The major contribution of this study was the demonstration that the ELDP technique appears to be associated with a low risk of persistence or recurrence of TTTS and TAPS.
Objectives: to describe altered intrauterine ultrasound, analyze fetal head circumference (HC) growth and neonates' outcomes among presumed cases of congenital Zika syndrome in Brazil. Methods: 30 women were included in the study with suspected history of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy and fetal's brain altered on ultrasound diagnosis. Sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics, prenatal altered ultrasounds, HC and other perinatal outcomes have been described. The relation between HC and gestational age was analyzed by using random regression effects based on polynomials fractions. The Z test was calculated to determine an instant variant mean rate of the HC for each gestational age. Results: the mean gestational age of the ultrasound diagnosis was 33.3 + 4.7 weeks and HC at birth was 28.9 + 1.6 cm. The main altered brain ultrasound was microcephaly (96.7%). The analysis of the fetal head circumference showed an estimated increase of the average HC, as to gestational age, it did not occur in a linear form. The instant HC variation rate increased according to gestational age (p<0,001). Conclusions: Fetal's main morphological alteration was microcephaly, observing an increase in the head circumference according to gestational age in a non-linear form and the variation decreased with gestational age.
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