Giving to Hasbro
Children's Hospital
Double the Promise:
Fetal Surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome
There are few occurrences
more devastating for an expectant mother than being told that
her unborn child is in danger. For Claudia Corriere, the impact
was two-fold.
Claudia Corriere discovered that
she was expecting twins, but within ten days of the happy realization,
she was dealt a distressing blow. Corriere was informed that
her babies were suffering from a rare condition called twin-to-twin
transfusion syndrome, also know as fetal transfusion syndrome,
and the babies were at risk for serious birth defects or death.
Roughly twenty percent of identical
twins will show evidence of twin-to-twin transfusion. The condition
results in blood circulating from one fetus to the other. One
twin is overextended by providing blood for two, resulting in
decreased energy for growth and the production of less amniotic
fluid. This can result in low birth weight, anemia, dehydration,
high blood pressure and severe heart or brain problems. The recipient
twin is at risk of developing heart failure, organ complications
and brain damage as result of receiving an excess of blood and
fluids.
Without treatment, the survival
rate of both twins is less than ten percent. With the use of
the traditional treatment of removing the excess amniotic fluid
from the recipient twin, the statistics are better, at 26 percent.
An early onset of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, before 20
weeks, is particularly dangerous, with high fatality rates. The
gestation period of Corriere’s twins was barely at the 20-week
mark, making the option of traditional treatment less promising.
Corriere was facing a staggering
situation. It appeared that the best chance for survival of the
twins was to undergo emergency fetal surgery. Corriere, a resident
of Kennesaw, Georgia, was told that the best possible options
were to be found out of state. Her physician recommended the
Fetal Treatment Program of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Women
& Infants’ Hospital and Brown Medical School.
Corriere trusted her physician,
but she was facing one of the most important decisions of her
life. Though a center in Florida was closer to her home, Corriere
concluded that her physician’s recommendation was the best
option. She packed for a trip to Providence, Rhode Island.
Back
| Giving
to Hasbro Children's Hospital
|
