Perinatal outcomes and influencing factors following radiofrequency ablation in multiple pregnancies

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of multiple pregnancies. Methods: In this retrospective study, 84 cases (total 174 fetuses) of complex monochorionic pregnancies treated with RFA for selective fetal reduction were analyzed. All cases were managed in the Guangdong Women and Children Hospital from January 2015 to January 2018. Indications for offering RFA, details of the procedure and pregnancy outcomes were collected and analyzed. Results: (1)The rate of miscarriage and fetal intrauterine death was 21% (18/84), termination of pregnancy because of fetal malformation or oligohydramnion occurred in 10% (8/84) of cases. Total live birth rate was 69% (58/84) and the gestation age at delivery was (35.0±3.0) weeks. (2) The live birth rate of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence (TRAPS) was the lowest (6/11), followed by twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS; 66%, 27/41), structural or genetic abnormalities of one fetus in monochorionic twin pregnancy (10/14), triplet pregnancy reduction (4/6) and selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) (11/12). (3) The live birth rate was 67% (20/30) in stage Ⅲ of TTTS and 7/11 in the stage Ⅳ of TTTS (P>0.05). The average gestational age was (33.6±3.0) weeks in stage Ⅲ of TTTS compared with (36.5±2.4) weeks in the stage Ⅳof TTTS (P<0.05). Conclusions: RFA appears to be a reliable option for selective fetal reduction in monochorionic multiple pregnancies. The indication of RFA is an influencing factor on its pregnancy outcomes. Type Ⅱand type Ⅲ sIUGR may choose this technique as a priority. Compared with stage Ⅲ of TTTS, the live birth rate and the gestation age at delivery in stage Ⅳ of TTTS, there are no significant differences.