What is a fetal transfusion?

Fetal transfusion indicates blood transfer to the unborn child. The rare state called Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTT) is also known as fetal transfusion syndrome. TTT occurs only during pregnancy of identical twins. Placentary blood supply is shared and often leaves one of the twins much weaker than the other. Fetal transfusion can also describe intrauterine blood transfusion performed to treat anemic fetus before birth.

Fetal blood transfusion is given to keep the child healthy until birth. If the fetus is positive on Rhesus (RH) and the mother is RH negative, antibodies can form that destroys red blood cells of the unborn child, causing anemia. Transfusion of red blood cells may be necessary to maintain the fetus. Fetal transfusions are infrased through umbilical veins to support blood cell absorption. Fetal transfusion can be repeated every one to four weeks to childbirth. The divisions are joined in the placenta of the same twins of pregnancy, causing unborn unbornTwins share blood. The twins who share blood are called Twin donors and the twin that receives extra blood is called Twin recipient. Many times one or both children died before birth or suffered as soon as she was born.

The physical effects of shared blood on unborn twins are serious. The donor pair often has a lower blood volume and is anemic of reduced blood supply. The recipient twins usually have a high blood and blood pressure, resulting in heart problems. Urine output in children may increase or decrease, causing changes in the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding every child.

Treatment of fetal transfusion syndrome may include aspiration of extra amniotic fluid from the Twin Twin amniotic bag or removal of the membrane betting bag of twins, so the amniot fluid can be shared. Another method of treatment is to interrupt the passage of blood between children. Part of the umbilical cord may be necessarySurgically block or responsible placental veins can be cauterized by laser.

Fetoscopic laser ablation is one of the procedures used to reduce blood sharing donor twins. Ultrasonic fetoscopy is used to locate the participating blood vessels, then the endoscopic laser destroys blood vessels. This procedure often ensures the survival of both children.