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Prolongation of pregnancy and survival of twin B after loss of twin A at 21 weeks' gestation

Article Abstract:

A 31-year-old woman pregnant with twins went into premature labor at 21 weeks of pregnancy. Twin A was prematurely delivered and died at birth. The placenta remained intact and a decision was made to continue the pregnancy with the second viable twin, twin B. A cervical cerclage, a procedure in which stitches are placed around the opening of the uterus, was performed to help maintain the pregnancy. Drugs to stop premature labor allowed the pregnancy to continue an additional 12 weeks, and at 33 weeks, a normal healthy female infant was delivered. Although other twin pregnancies having a loss of one twin have successfully carried on, the continuation after vaginal delivery of one twin is unusual. Potential complications included infection of the uterus and fetal sac. In this case, infection was prevented with prophylactic antibiotic drug therapy.

Care and treatment, Case studies, Complications and side effects, Premature labor, Twins, Multiple birth

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Prenatal ultrasonographic prediction of homozygous type 1 alpha-thalassemia at 12 to 13 weeks of gestation

Article Abstract:

Vaginal ultrasound scans of pregnant women can predict which fetuses have alpha thalassemia. This disorder of hemoglobin synthesis causes anemia in the fetus, which tries to compensate by enlarging its heart. Researchers gave ultrasound scans, sometimes via the vagina, to 135 pregnant women whose fetuses were at risk of alpha thalassemia. When the ratio of the diameter of the heart to the diameter of the chest was 0.5 or greater, this accurately identified all fetuses with alpha thalassemia.

Evaluation, Ultrasound imaging, Diagnosis, Measurement, Thalassemia, Prenatal diagnosis, Fetal heart

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