Monopolar thermocoagulation in the management of acardiac twins

Abstract

Objective: To demonstrate the equipment setup and the application of monopolar thermocoagulation in the management of acardiac twins.

Methods: We described 2 cases of acardiac acephalus twins who developed congestive heart failure and polyhydramnios at 20 weeks of gestation. A monopolar wire electrode was inserted through a 14-gauge trocar under ultrasound guidance. The inter-twin circulation was interrupted and confirmed by color Doppler flow examination.

Results: Case 1 was detected at 20 weeks of gestation with progression to early signs of fetal congestive heart failure at 22 weeks. This case had smooth operative procedure and delivered a healthy infant at 32 weeks. Case 2 was referred at 24 weeks of gestation with marked fetal congestive heart failure. Although thermocoagulation cessed the inter-twin perfusion, the fetus died in utero 12 h later with persistent irreversible circulatory compensation.

Conclusion: Monopolar thermocoagulation was an effective and generally available alternative technique to fetal endoscopic surgery for the interruption of vascular communication between acardiac twins.