Giving to Hasbro Children's Hospital

Double the Promise: Fetal Surgery for Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

“I had an overwhelmingly good feeling about the doctors. I knew it would be okay. I also had faith that whatever happened, I would accept it,” said Corriere.

Upon arrival at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the diagnosis of advanced twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome was confirmed. Fetal surgery was recommended. The results of laser fetal surgery appear to be better than those of any other techniques. Survival of at least one twin is between 70 and 80 percent, and survival of both twins is between 30 and 40 percent. Also, the complication rate appears to be much lower. Corriere’s fetal surgery was scheduled for that very evening.

Corriere says, “I had an overwhelmingly good feeling about the doctors. I knew it would be okay. I also had faith that whatever happened, I would accept it.”

Francois Luks, MD, of Hasbro Children’s Hospital, was the lead physician on the team of clinicians who conducted the surgery. The surgery, laser coagulation of the communicating placental vessels, uses a laser to block the vessels that connect the twins. Originally described in 1995 by Julian DeLia, MD, this form of fetal surgery is performed in only a handful of centers worldwide.

The cutting-edge fetal laser surgery procedure at Hasbro Children’s Hospital enabled Corriere to beat the odds. She gave birth to two beautiful baby girls on July 27, 2005. Although one was born with a heart complication, both twins are doing tremendously well.