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An Aeardiac Twin
Author(s) -
Comerford John A.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.1991.tb01815.x
Subject(s) - cardiotocography , medicine , twin twin transfusion syndrome , fetal distress , twin pregnancy , pediatrics , ultrasonography , obstetrics , twin to twin transfusion syndrome , pregnancy , cardiology , fetus , surgery , genetics , biology
EDITORIAL COMMENT: : We accepted this case for publication because it nicely reviews the rare problem of an aeardiac twin which can be a cause of nonimmune hydrops in the ‘normal’ twin ‐ apparently the normal twin develops cardiac failure because of the extra circulatory burden. Such cases when diagnosed antenatally present the problem of timing of delivery, especially if the parasitic twin ‘dies’ (cessation of blood flow as assessed by Doppler study). In addition to serial ultrasonography to detect the onset of hydrops in the normal twin, regular cardiotocography is indicated since twin to twin transfusion may result in signs of severe fetal distress (type 2 decelerations, loss of beat to beat variation or sinusoidal pattern typical of fetal anaemia/ warranting prompt delivery.