Severe polyhydramnios in twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence: successful management with intrafetal alcohol ablation of acardiac twin and amniodrainage.

Abstract

We present two cases of twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence complicated by severe polyhydramnios during the second trimester. Both cases were successfully managed at 27 and 26 weeks with ultrasound-guided intrafetal alcohol ablation of the acardiac twin and amniodrainage. The pump twins were delivered at 35 and 37 weeks, respectively, and both had uneventful postnatal courses. These cases suggest that, in the setting of severe polyhydramnios, prenatal intervention in TRAP sequence could certainly improve the otherwise poor prognosis of the pump twin. Targeting the main intra-abdominal vessel of the acardiac twin rather than its umbilical cord seems to be a good alternative in the prenatal treatment of these cases. The option of percutaneous intrafetal alcohol injection is widely available and less invasive, simpler and easier to perform than recently advocated endoscopic techniques.