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MINIMALLY INVASIVE MANAGEMENT OF TWIN REVERSED ARTERIAL PERFUSION SEQUENCE (TRAP)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 April 2006

NJ SEBIRE
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Pathology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
AE WONG
Affiliation:
Fetal Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica Las Condes, Chile
W SEPULVEDA
Affiliation:
Fetal Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Clinica Las Condes, Chile

Abstract

Acardiac anomaly, twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence or chorioangopagus parasiticus are synonymous terms referring to a rare complication unique to monochorionic multiple pregnancies in which there is apparent lack of a well-formed cardiac structure in one fetus (the acardiac twin), which is abnormally perfused by a structurally normal co-twin (the pump twin) through a single superficial artery-to-artery placental anastomosis. The condition therefore results in arterial blood flowing in a retrograde fashion from the pump twin towards the affected fetus, and this underlying pathophysiology indicates the preferred use of the clinical term TRAP-sequence. Pathophysiologically, the acardiac fetus acts as a parasite that can only survive in-utero as it is haemodynamically dependent upon the pump twin. The principal perinatal problems being associated with the TRAP sequence are pump-twin congestive heart failure, polyhydramnios and severe preterm delivery, although intrauterine death of the pump twin has been reported even in the absence of such features.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2006 Cambridge University Press

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