Selective reduction and termination of multiple pregnancies

Abstract

The substantial increase in high order multiple pregnancies in the last two decades as a result of assisted reproductive techniques has necessitated the development of multifetal pregnancy reduction as a management tool to decrease fetal number and improve perinatal survival. The evidence in favour of reduction in pregnancies with more than four fetuses to twins is undisputed. Despite the recent improvements in expectant management of triplets with reasonable perinatal outcomes, the evidence suggests that reduction to twins significantly reduces the risk of preterm delivery without an increase in miscarriage rates. Recent advances in vascular-occlusive techniques have allowed the possibility of selective termination in monochorionic pregnancies in the presence of discordant anomalies or indeed multifetal reduction in non-trichorionic triplets, with radiofrequency ablation and cord occlusion appearing to be the most successful. However, the techniques vary in complexity and complication rates, which increase with gestation. Hence the need to refer these pregnancies early to specialist centres.