Perinatal outcome after fetoscopic laser surgery for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in triplet pregnancies.

<bold>Objectives: </bold>The introduction of fetoscopic laser surgery of placental anastomoses has led to a significant improvement of perinatal outcome of twin pregnancies affected by twin-to-twin-transfusion syndrome (TTTS). To quantify the perinatal outcome and neurological morbidity in triplet pregnancies complicated by TTTS, which were treated with fetoscopic laser surgery.<bold>Search Strategy: </bold>Medline, Embase, Cinahl and Cochrane were searched.<bold>Selection Criteria: </bold>The outcomes observed were: fetal and perinatal survival, preterm birth and abnormal neurological outcome.<bold>Data Collection and Analysis: </bold>Two authors reviewed all abstracts independently. Meta-analyses of proportions were used to combine data.<bold>Main Results: </bold>Eight studies (126 triplet pregnancies, 104 dichorionic-triamniotic [DCTA] and 22 monochorionic-triamniotic [MCTA]) treated with fetoscopic laser surgery were included in this review. In DCTA and MCTA pregnancies, fetal losses were 18.9% and 28.9%, respectively; perinatal losses were 23.6% and 75.0%; preterm births <28 weeks of gestation were 16.9% and 37.1%; preterm births <32 weeks of gestation were 50.0% and 69.5%; at least one fetus survived in 95.4% and 88.9% of the pregnancies; at least two fetuses survived in 81.8% and 68.3% of the pregnancies; and in 55.9% and 48.4% pregnancies all triplets survived. Finally, the incidence of abnormal neurological outcomes ranged from 0 to 37% in DCTA and from 0 to 50% in MCTA triplets.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Both DTCA and MCTA triplet pregnancies affected by TTTS are at high risk of adverse perinatal outcome.<bold>Tweetable Abstract: </bold>Both DTCA and MCTA triplet pregnancies affected by TTTS are at high risk of adverse perinatal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]