TTTS: Selective Laser Photocoagulation of Communicating Vessels in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Sponsor
University of South Florida (Other)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT01622049
Collaborator
(none)
77
1
28.1
2.7

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

Patients undergo a detailed ultrasound examination to rule out the presence of congenital anomalies, and to assess the hemodynamic status of the fetuses. Patients with confirmed TTTS will be considered candidates for the trial. Patients will be counseled about the risks and benefits of all treatment options and will be free to choose any treatment option. They will then be asked to sign an informed consent. The procedure will be performed under local anesthesia. After a 2-3 mm skin incision, and under ultrasound guidance, the trocar will be introduced in the amniotic cavity of the Recipient twin. The communicating vessels will be located endoscopically and will be lasered with YAG laser energy. An accessory port may be required in some cases. The procedure will be monitored both endoscopically and sonographically. The presence of fetal heart activity will be noted often during the procedure. An amniodrainage of the larger sac may be performed at the time of the procedure. The patient will remain hospitalized 1-3 days and will undergo an ultrasound assessment on the first post operative day. Patients will undergo a weekly ultrasound examination for four weeks after the initial therapeutic procedure. Sonographic parameters to evaluate will include: maximum vertical pocket of fluid in each sac, visualization of the fetal bladders, absence or presence of hydrops, and Doppler studies of the umbilical artery, umbilical vein, ductus venosus, and middle cerebral artery. After delivery babies will be assessed by their corresponding neonatologists or pediatricians. Infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit will be followed through their discharge. Evidence of neurological or cardiac morbidity will be sought in each twin. If either of these complications is suspected, evaluation by pediatric neurology or pediatric cardiology will be requested. Babies will be followed up for neonatal, infant and childhood morbidity or mortality. It is requested that all placentas be delivered fresh to Tampa General Hospital in an icebox container for assessment. Placentas will be discarded after analysis.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase
  • Device: Selective Laser Photocoagulation of Communicating Vessels

Study Design

Study Type:
Observational
Actual Enrollment :
77 participants
Official Title:
Selective Laser Photocoagulation of Communicating Vessels in Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
Study Start Date :
Oct 1, 2006
Actual Primary Completion Date :
Feb 1, 2009
Actual Study Completion Date :
Feb 1, 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm Intervention/Treatment
TTTS treatment method

This is an observational trial. Patients who meet eligibility criteria and give written informed consent will have SLPCV. All subjects will receive ongoing standard-of-care prenatal care for the duration of their pregnancy from their referring perinatologist or obstetrician.

Device: Selective Laser Photocoagulation of Communicating Vessels
Patients will be admitted to Tampa General Hospital. Laboratory tests and anesthesia assessments will be completed. Antibiotic prophylaxis is initiated within an hour of surgery and continued every 8 hours through the first post-operative day. Surgery will be performed preferably under local anesthesia for the mother using 1% xylocaine with epinephrine at the trocar entry site, and IV sedation. Surgery will be performed with standard operative fetoscopy equipment and techniques. A trocar will be introduced in the amniotic cavity of the recipient. An amniotic fluid sample will be obtained for microbiological studies, and genetic analysis for clinical care only. The amniotic fluid will be discarded after analysis. The communicating vessels will be located endoscopically and will be lasered with YAG laser energy. The procedure will be monitored both endoscopically and sonographically. The presence of fetal heart activity will be noted. An amniodrainage of the larger sac may be performed
Other Names:
  • SLPCV
  • Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

    1. The primary study objective is to evaluate neonatal/infant survival 6 months after birth. [6 months]

    Secondary Outcome Measures

    1. The secondary study objective is to evaluate the effects of surgery on postnatal neurological morbidity. For the purposes of this clinical trial, neurological morbidity includes any of the following conditions diagnosed within 6 months of birth [6 months]

    Eligibility Criteria

    Criteria

    Ages Eligible for Study:
    18 Years to 55 Years
    Sexes Eligible for Study:
    Female
    Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
    No

    Inclusion Criteria

    To be eligible, patients must meet the following criteria:
    1. Maternal age 18 to 55 years

    2. Gestational age: 16 weeks, 0 days to 26 weeks, 0 days.

    3. Confirmed TTTS patients, who by definition meet the following sonographic criteria:

    4. Single placenta.

    5. Polyhydramnios: maximum vertical pocket >= 8 cm in the recipient twin, prior to amniodrainage.

    6. Oligohydramnios: maximum vertical pocket <=2 cm in the donor twin, prior to amniodrainage.

    7. Thin dividing membrane (absence of twin peak sign) or absence of dividing membrane (monoamniotic).

    8. Same gender, if visible.

    9. Patients choosing laser therapy that have undergone prior therapeutic amniocentesis may be included.

    10. Patients with an anterior placenta may be included.

    11. Triplet gestations with two or three fetuses sharing the same placenta may be included.

    12. Patients must be able to give written informed consent. Inclusion Criteria 5.2 Exclusion Criteria

    The following criteria would exclude patients from participation in the study:
    1. Patients unable or unwilling to participate in the study or to be followed up.

    2. Patients unable to give written informed consent.

    3. Presence of major congenital anomalies that may not warrant surgery.

    4. Known unbalanced chromosomal complement.

    5. Prior intentional septostomy (purposely making a hole in the dividing membrane).

    6. Ruptured membranes.

    7. Chorioamnionitis.

    8. Abnormal intracranial ultrasound findings of either fetus to include, but not limited to: intraventricular hemorrhage, porencephalic cysts, hydrocephalus, Dandy-Walker syndrome, holoprosencephaly and agenesis of the corpus callosum. Isolated ventriculomegaly (atrium 10-19 mm) may or may not be used an exclusion criteria.

    9. Placental abruption.

    10. Active labor.

    11. Jehovah's Witness.

    12. Any other patient deemed inappropriate for the study by the principal investigator.

    Contacts and Locations

    Locations

    Site City State Country Postal Code
    1 University of South Florida Tampa Florida United States 33606

    Sponsors and Collaborators

    • University of South Florida

    Investigators

    • Principal Investigator: Ruben A Quintero, MD, University of South Florida

    Study Documents (Full-Text)

    None provided.

    More Information

    Publications

    None provided.
    Responsible Party:
    University of South Florida
    ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
    NCT01622049
    Other Study ID Numbers:
    • #105118
    First Posted:
    Jun 18, 2012
    Last Update Posted:
    Mar 14, 2013
    Last Verified:
    Nov 1, 2012
    Additional relevant MeSH terms:

    Study Results

    No Results Posted as of Mar 14, 2013