Acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation on recipient cardiac function in twin-twin transfusion syndrome

Objective This study evaluated the acute effects of selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (SFLP) on recipient cardiovascular function in a twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) pregnancy. Study Design This was a retrospective chart review of echocardiographic data in TTTS including right (RV) and left (LV) ventricular Doppler myocardial performance index (MPI); LV and RV end diastolic wall thickness; and umbilical artery (UA), vein (UV), and ductus venosus (DV) Dopplers. The primary outcome measures were improved MPI defined as greater than 10% interval decrease in left and/or right MPI. Data were analyzed by Student t test and Fisher's exact test. Results Sixty-five patients met inclusion criteria. SFLP results in a significant improvement in UV and DV Doppler and an increase in both RV and LV wall thickness. A 10% or greater improvement in recipient LV MPI after SFLP is associated with improved recipient survival as compared with unimproved LV MPI (100% vs 86.1%, P = .05). Conclusion Improved recipient myocardial performance index after SFLP is associated with improvement in recipient survival.