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Ultrasound Breakthrough Helps Save Twins With Rare Syndrome
Newser • • health
Key Points:
- Doctors in London have tested a nonsurgical focused ultrasound technique to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition where identical twins sharing a placenta receive uneven blood flow.
- The procedure uses high-powered ultrasound waves to heat and seal tiny placental blood vessels from outside the body, avoiding the need for invasive needles and lasers inside the womb.
- In a small trial of 10 women, the treatment successfully blocked blood flow in 90% of targeted vessels, resulting in 12 of 20 twin infants surviving with no reported side effects.
- Researchers describe the noninvasive method as "extremely exciting" but emphasize that larger studies are required before it can become a routine treatment.
- TTTS affects an estimated 300 to 400 twin pregnancies annually in the UK, and patients like Brioney Garrett credit the new treatment with saving their babies' lives.
