Multifetal pregnancy reduction: Experience of past 25 years

 

 

Abstract              Background: Objective: To analyze and share experience of performing multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) over past 25 years with emphasis on technique, fetal loss rate, complications. Methodology: A retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected data of 975 patients with higher order pregnancies due to assisted reproduction were subjected to MFPR through ultrasound guided either transvaginal and transabdominal technique using KCl before 14wks weeks of gestation from January 1995 to December 2020 and compared. Results: out of total 975 MFPR patients, transabdominal approach was followed in 805 (82.56%) cases and for the remaining 170(17.43%) patient’s, transvaginal route multifetal reduction techniques were performed. In 655(67.17%) cases triplets were successfully reduced and 251(25.74%) cases with twins’ pregnancy were reduced to singletons. In 62(6.35%) quadruplet, 5(0.51%) quintuplet and 2 (0.2%) sextuplet multifetal reduction was successfully carried out respectively. Total 33 (3.28%) pregnancies were lost as a result of procedure. There were 18 (2.24%) cases of fetal loss observed with transabdominal procedure, while 14 (8.24) cases of fetal loss were observed with transvaginal procedure which is significantly higher (P<0.05). Complete loss of pregnancy was lowest with twins and increased with higher order multifetal pregnancy (P<0.05). Adverse Psychological impact (10.87%), premature delivery (3.28) and vaginal bleeding were the most prominent complications of the procedure. Conclusion: MFPR is a widely used technique for reduction of fetuses in multiple gestations for improvement in maternal outcome and survival of remaining fetuses and fetus. Significantly lower incidence of pregnancy loss and complications was observed with transabdominal process as compare to transvaginal route.

Key words: Multifetal gestation, MFPR, transabdominal route, transvaginal route, complications of MFPR

 

INTRODUCTION

Increasing prevalence of couples with infertility and wide spread use of assisted reproduction technologies in last few decades has drastically increased the number of multifetal pregnancies. IUI and IVF are frequently used techniques for assisted reproduction which requires use of ovarian stimulatory hormones, contributing to increase in multifetal pregnancies.^1,2 According to US data of CDC report, the triplet and higher-order multiple birth rate (triplet/+) was 87.7 per 100,000 births for 2019, a 6% decline from 2017 (93.0) and down 55% from the 1998 peak (193.5). The triplet/+ birth rate (number of triplets, quadruplets, and quintuplets and other higher-order multiples per 100,000 births), rose more than 400% from 1980 to 1998.³ Indian data regarding multifetal pregnancies has not been well reported but trend is increasing. This increase in the incidence of multifetal pregnancies is of much concern, as it also increases the morbidity and mortality of both the mother and fetuses. Greater the number of fetuses, greater the maternal and perinatal risk.^4,5 Complications pertaining to fetus may range from complete pregnancy loss and premature birth with short term sequelae such as respiratory and gastrointestinal complications, and long-term neurological impairment.⁶ Maternal complications include hyperemesis, gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and postpartum hemorrhage, which if severe may be life-threatening to the mother and have a secondary impact on fetal outcome also.⁷ Furthermore, the economic, psychosocial and social impact of multiple births on the patient and family is also huge affecting their quality of life to a great extent.^8-10 Therefore, it is necessary to opt for fetal reduction whenever feasible. In selective termination, (one or more) anomalous fetuses in a multifetal pregnancy are terminated while in multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) the number of fetuses in gestation are reduced in order “to improve the chances of healthy survival in the remaining conceptuses and to reduce the hazards to the mother”.¹¹ Apart from optimization of outcome, fetal reduction may be conducted for social reasons based on the patient’s request. The 2006 International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) Committee Report also suggests MFPR as ethical approach in order to save life and wellbeing of mother and fetuses.¹² Data related to MFPR is scares from India. Prevention of higher-order multifetal pregnancies is essential and requires careful monitoring of infertility therapies. The positive effect of MFPR on perinatal outcome is uncontroversial for triplets and higher-order pregnancies. Advances in perinatal medicine have substantially reduced mortality in premature triplet deliveries but NICU expenses are unusually very high for patients of developing country like India, and this should be taken into account when considering the potential benefit of MFPR. In this study, we report our experience of performing reduction in multifetal pregnancies over past 25 years with emphasis on technique, fetal loss rate, complications and why it is used in twins gestation etc.

 

METHODOLOGY

This was a retrospective analysis of the prospectively collected data from January 1995 to December 2020 from women coming with high-order multiple gestations for fetal reduction at the Dr. B I PATEL’S Gynob Sonoscan center, Ahmedabad.

Study population: Total 975 couples were included for the analysis coming for MFPR to our center. Mothers who refuse to give consent were excluded. All the patients were counseled to reduce the number of fetuses to two and in some it was advised to reduce the fetus to one as per the health of mother and fetus (multiple scars on uterus and high BMI or for family planning purpose), family socioeconomic and psychological condition of the patients.

Procedure: fetal reduction was done as an outpatient procedure IV general anesthesia using short Pentothal or local anesthesia for pregnancies between 12-14 weeks of gestation (55-85mm CRL). Routine sonography was done to evaluate nasal bone, NT screening & IT ( intra cranial translucency for NTDs. and general anatomy survey in all selected patients for MFPR. Few patients came at 15-18 weeks of gestation for selective feticide in case of other co-twin is having anomalies as detection of anomalies was late due to lack of facilities in rural areas of India. In cases of Rh negative patients with their husband Rh positive, post procedural anti D given as per the standard treatment protocol. Before procedure, we have taken care of proper selection of fetus which is to be reduced. Procedure Approach was either using transvaginal sonography (TVS) or transabdominal sonography (TAS).

1. In Trans abdominal (TAS) Procedure, patient requires 4 hours stay in hospital. It is being done under local or general anesthesia (LA/ GA). Painting and draping for abdominal was done as like routine. Accuracy achieved because of the high resolution trans abdominal sonography guidance which is a free hand technique, rarely one can use a needle guide with software also. Before targeting the fetus for reduction mapping by 3D TUI of total uterus (Tomographic ultrasound imaging) done and under guidance of sonography continuous visualization of needle is possible. However, fetus is a moving object many a time instead of entry in the heart we may land up into a different part of fetal body to. (Like Thorax, abdomen, cranium, neck) avoid multiple needle entry as chance of abortion increased. Because of the continuous needle visualization complication can be prevented or it can be easily make out.
2. In TVS approach: it was being done under software guide with needle attachment so if movement of fetus is not there it will be convenient but if the fetus moves, we may land up into other parts of fetal body. For vaginal procedure we prepared vagina with 10% povidone iodine and was then thoroughly rinsed with sterile saline solution and drying to remove any traces of povidone iodine. Transvaginal ultrasound was used.

Selection of needle: Smallest bore, length of needle depends upon depth of target but we routinely use spinal needle of 23 gauze. Needle should be able to reflect sound wave so it remains visible throughout the procedure. Tip visualization is important to ensure hitting of target. Needle should be having sharp pointed end to minimizes the pain and risk of injury (should always use disposable). Disposable needle and stellate which gives a well recognizable echo-reflection, are used for the procedure so smoothly that only local anesthesia is sufficient.

Site of instillation: Site of instillation was directly in heart, in thorax and sub thorax region (95% cases) or fetal abdomen and intra cranial or other parts if fetus moves. Many a times when fetus remains in vertical position with head in up position; so, we tried to instill in cranium and got a very good response).

Method of MFPR: Different methods for MFPR is like; Intra-cardiac or intrathoracic KCl, Cardiac puncture with air embolization, Intra-cardiac puncture - no KCl - till asystole, exsanguination - aspiration of blood from heart of fetus till asystole is achieved. Aspiration of embryo (7-9wks) by under guidance of trans abdominal sonography, Cervical dilation and aspiration of gestational sac with large bore needle etc. We used injection KCl (2 ml of 2 mEq/ml) method for MFPR. In some of cases where reduction done after 16-18wks selective feticide for anomalies fetus. In those conditions we use Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) daily to patient, as dead tissue mass was higher; to prevent the effect of micro embolization to other remaining fetuses.

Post-procedure care: The patients were given prophylactic antibiotics 1 g of IV cefotaxime before the procedure and were discharged after 3 hours with antibiotics and uterine relaxants like is isoxsuprine. Follow-up ultrasound examination was done 1 week after the procedure. All patients received routine antenatal care and follow-up of the pregnancy except for those who traveled to other cities of India.

Outcome measures: The number of procedures by transabdominal and transvaginal route and pregnancy loss was analyzed and compared with number of higher order pregnancy and number of fetuses. Reason for selection for route of procedure, site of instillation and time to cease the cardiac activity was also recorded and compared. Complications of the MFPR were also analyzed.

Statistical analysis: Data is analyzed using Microsoft excel 2013. Data is presented as actual frequencies, percentage, mean and standard deviation. For comparison of fetus loss by transabdominal and transvaginal route, chi-square test was used and p value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

 

RESULTS

Total 975 patients reported to our center from January 1995 to December 2020 with multiple pregnancy requiring MFPR. Fetal reduction was performed on total 975 cases out of which, transabdominal multifetal reduction approach was followed in 805 (82.56%) cases and for the remaining 170 (17.43%) patient’s, transvaginal multifetal reduction techniques was employed. Based on number of fetuses, total 655 (67.17%) cases with triplets were found to be the major category of patients who were successfully subjected to multifetal reduction followed by 251 (25.74%) cases with twins’ pregnancy. Successful attempt of multifetal reduction was carried out with 62 (6.35%) quadruplet, 5 (0.51%) quintuplet and 2 (0.2%) sextuplet cases respectively. (Table 1). All the pregnancies were either a result of intrauterine insemination or in vitro-fertilization. Major criteria for selecting the vaginal approach were higher BMI, multiple scars over abdomen, multiple myoma or lower lying fetus is anomalous in twins in this study. Table 2 showed the fetal loss after the procedure. Overall, out of total 975 pregnancies, 33 (3.28%) were lost as a result of procedure. There were 18 (2.24%) cases of fetal loss observed with transabdominal procedure, while 14 (8.24) cases of fetal loss were observed with transvaginal procedure. Pregnancy loss rate is significantly higher with transvaginal route (P<0.05). Higher incidence of total pregnancy loss, severe preterm birth and long term morbidity was found in women with triplets and higher number of fetus. The magnitude of risk depends on the number of fetus implanted (P<0.05) and their chronicity which has been assessed in present study population and quoted in Table 2. Monitoring of duration of cessation of cardiac activity post injecting lethal dose of KCl at different sites revealed that injection in chambers of fetal heart and fetal cranium leads to immediate fetal cardiac arrest within 5 to 10 seconds, while injection in fetal thorax (10-25 seconds), sub-diaphragm (20-40 seconds) and abdomen (50-120 seconds) takes more time for cessation of cardiac activity as shown in table 3. All the patients were assessed for the complications related to the procedure and analysis is shown in table 4. Serious adverse complications pertaining to the procedure employed for multifetal reduction was found to be less than 10%. Adverse Psychological impact (10.87%), premature delivery (3.28) and vaginal bleeding were the most prominent risk associated with first trimester multifetal reduction. Incidence of procedure related problems like infection and in monochromic pregnancy (MCDA) total five pregnancy were 2 continue for full-term but 2 were having loss after 1 moth and while in one it was complete loss within 2-3 days. (We usually never council for fetal reduction in MCDA.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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