Long-term outcomes of laser coagulation of feto-fetal anastomoses in monochorionic twins

Objective. To evaluate long-term outcomes of fetoscopic laser coagulation (FLC) of placental anastomoses in monochorionic twins with feto-fetal transfusion syndrome (FFTS). Patients and methods. The experimental group included live infants after FLC born to 76 women between 2012 and 2017. The control group comprised monochorionic, diamniotic (MCDA) twins with no complications born to 109 women. The following criteria were used in the analysis: gestational age at FLC, FFTS stage (Quintero staging system), gestational age at delivery, and delivery method. During follow-up, we analyzed children’s data at birth and at the age of one and three years. Results. The number of healthy children and children with minimal health problems in the experimental group was 106 (84.8%) by the age of one year and 112 (89.6%) by the age of 3 years. Nineteen children (15.2%) were disabled at the age of one year; by 3 years of age, their number decreased to 13 (10.4%). In the control group, 2 participants (1.8%) had neurological disabilities. Conclusion. The majority of children born after FLC were healthy and socially adapted. The most common disorders after FLC were neurological disorders (8.8%), cardiovascular disorders (14.8%), retinopathy of prematurity (15.7%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (10%). The main factor affecting the development of complications in these children was gestational age at delivery. The optimal gestational age was 33–35 weeks, when the risk of disability was similar to that in MCDA twins without complications. Key words: monochorionic twins, feto-fetal transfusion syndrome, fetoscopy