Laser surgery linked to developmental problems in twin-to-twin syndrome

The incidence of neurodevelopmental impairment is high in survivors of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome treated with laser surgery, researchers report in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Frans J. Walther, MD, PhD, of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and colleagues examined the long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of 82 twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome pregnancies treated with fetoscopic laser surgery.

The researchers found a 70% perinatal survival rate. Neurodevelopmental impairment due to cerebral palsy, mental developmental delay, psychomotor developmental delay, or deafness was present in 17% of cases at 2 years of age.

Lopriore E, Middeldorp JM, Sueters M, et al. Long-term neurodevelopmental outcome in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome treated with fetoscopic laser surgery. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007;196:231.e1-231.e4.