Septostomy with or without amnioreduction for the treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on septostomy with or without amnioreduction for the treatment of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome.
Description
Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome occurs when unborn identical twins have different sacs in the womb but share the same placenta. This results in blood flow from one twin to the other through connections between blood vessels in the shared placenta becoming unbalanced. The volume of fluid around the twins also becomes uneven. In septostomy with or without amnioreduction, a needle is used to make a hole in the membrane separating the twins to even out the volume of the fluid surrounding the babies. Sometimes excess amniotic fluid may need to be removed with another needle (this procedure is called amnioreduction).
OPCS code:
Details
British Association of Perinatal Medicine
British Maternal and Fetal Medicine SocietyRoyal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists
Contact details:
(for general enquiries or comments)
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
ip@nice.org.uk
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
