True Nodes of the Umbilical Cords of a Mono-Amniotic Pregnancy

Abstract

The incidence of twin pregnancies, has increased due to assisted reproductive technologies [1]. We note a doubling between 1970 and 2010 from less than 8‰ to nearly 16‰ of pregnancies (Pison et al., 2014; Pison et al., 2015) in developed countries [2] and 17‰ to 20‰ in sub-Saharan Africa. Monozygotic twins are the product of fertilization of a single egg by a single sperm, with the egg splitting into two within the first few days after fertilization. If the division takes place after the 8th day, the pregnancy is mono-chorionic mono-amniotic (less 1% of cases of monozygotic pregnancies) and represents 1 in 30,000 pregnancies. It is the development of two fetuses within the same amniotic sac, representing the rarest type of twin pregnancy (1% of monozygotic twin pregnancies) but being the one with the highest fetal and maternal morbidity. The main complication feared is coiling and knots of the umbilical cords responsible for abnormal heartbeat, fetal suffering and eventual fetal death. We report the case of in utero fetal death of twins from a mono choral mono amniotic pregnancy secondary to knots and coiling of the cord in order to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects.