Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2000 Feb;43(2):228-236.

Pregnancy Outcomes after Transvaginal Selective Fetal Reduction in Multifetal Pregnancy

• Kim SH
• Seo SS
• Lim KS
• Jee BC
• Suh CS
• Choi YM
• Kim JG
• Moon SY
• Lee JY

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the maternal and fetal outcomes after transvaginal selective fetal reduction(SFR) in multifetal pregnancy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Transvaginal SFR using fetal intracardiac puncture with KCl injection and aspiration of amniotic fluid was performed in 58 multifetal pregnancies achieved after assisted reproductive technology(ART). After transvaginal SFR, 55 twin and 3 singleton pregnancies were evaluated and analyzed retrospectively with the medical records of mothers and babies.
RESULTS
Of 58 cases, abortion within 4 weeks after SFR occurred in 1 case(1.7%). Miscarriage of all fetuses occurred in 8 cases(13.8%) from 4 weeks after SFR until 24 weeks of gestation. Perinatal death occurred in 8 newborns from 5 mothers due to extreme prematurity in 7 cases and anencephaly in 1 case. Take-home baby rate, that is, discharge with at least 1 healthy baby, was 77.6%(45/58).
CONCLUSION
Transvaginal SFR is an acceptable and effective management option in the cases of excessive multifetal pregnancy after infertility treatment. The ultimate successful outcomes of reduced multifetal pregnancy may be enhanced by more extensive experience with SFR.

Keyword

Assisted reproductive technology(ART); Multifetal pregnancy; Selective fetal reduction(SFR); Transvaginal SFR; Pregnancy outcomes; Fetal outcomes

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Spontaneous
Amniotic Fluid
Anencephaly
Female
Fetus
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Infertility
Medical Records
Mothers
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome*
Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal*
Pregnancy*
Punctures
Retrospective Studies