Clinical application of transabdominal selective fetal reduction during the second trimester of pregnancy

Objective:To explore the method and pregnancy outcome of transabdominal selective fetal reduction during the second trimester of pregnancy. Methods:35 patients receiving fetal reduction because of multiple birth or one fetus with fetal deformity were selected from the hospital from December 1999 to June 2010;the method and complications of fetal reduction,average gestational weeks,neonatal birth weight were analyzed;the neonatal birth weights and gestational weeks of retained single fetus or retained twin fetuses after fetal reduction were compared. Results:All the patients had no postoperative bleeding,fluid leakage,postoperative early abortion and coagulation disorder;postoperative late abortion occurred in 3 patients,accounting for 8.57%,the average gestational weeks were(34.62±4.05) weeks,the average neonatal birth weight was(2.31±0.64) kg.There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between fetal reduction group of retained one fetus and fetal reduction group of retained two fetuses.In retained single fetus group,the average gestational weeks were(36.44±2.83) weeks,the average neonatal birth weight was(2.63±0.57) kg;in retained twin fetuses group,the average gestational weeks were(34.13±2.77) weeks,the average neonatal birth weight was(1.96±0.53) kg,there was significant difference in the average gestational weeks and average neonatal birth weight between the two groups. Conclusion:Fetal reduction during the second trimester of pregnancy can be used as a safe,simple and effective method to avoid multiple pregnancy and the birth of abnormal fetuses;the pregnancy outcome of retained single fetus group is superior to that of retained twin fetuses group.