OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with an internally cooled electrode for twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence. METHODS: From April 2008 through December 2014, we retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent RFA with an internally cooled electrode for TRAP sequence at 3 tertiary referral centers in Japan. RESULTS: Twenty-five monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies underwent RFA with an internally cooled electrode for TRAP sequence at 16-27 weeks of gestation. In all cases, umbilical cord blood flow cessation in the acardiac twin was confirmed by ultrasonography with color Doppler. There were 2 cases of procedure-related complications: 1 case of unintentional septostomy and 1 case of anemia in a pump twin. Fetal demise of the pump twin occurred in 3 (12%) cases. Twenty-two (88%) of 25 pump twins were delivered alive. The median gestational age at delivery was 36 + 3 weeks (range 25 + 2-40 + 5 weeks). There were 14 cases (64%) of premature deliveries before 37 weeks and 5 (23%) before 32 weeks. CONCLUSION: RFA with an internally cooled electrode is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of TRAP sequence.
OBJECTIVE: The study aims to evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with an internally cooled electrode for twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence. METHODS: From April 2008 through December 2014, we retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent RFA with an internally cooled electrode for TRAP sequence at 3 tertiary referral centers in Japan. RESULTS: Twenty-five monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies underwent RFA with an internally cooled electrode for TRAP sequence at 16-27 weeks of gestation. In all cases, umbilical cord blood flow cessation in the acardiac twin was confirmed by ultrasonography with color Doppler. There were 2 cases of procedure-related complications: 1 case of unintentional septostomy and 1 case of anemia in a pump twin. Fetal demise of the pump twin occurred in 3 (12%) cases. Twenty-two (88%) of 25 pump twins were delivered alive. The median gestational age at delivery was 36 + 3 weeks (range 25 + 2-40 + 5 weeks). There were 14 cases (64%) of premature deliveries before 37 weeks and 5 (23%) before 32 weeks. CONCLUSION: RFA with an internally cooled electrode is a feasible and effective procedure for the treatment of TRAP sequence.