Pioneering treatment saves identical twins from rare pregnancy condition
A new non-invasive procedure using high-powered sound waves has successfully treated twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome in a clinical trial. The method avoids traditional surgery, offering a safer alternative for high-risk pregnancies.
Why it matters
This medical breakthrough could significantly improve survival rates and reduce surgical risks for identical twins sharing a placenta.
Image source, Brioney Garrett Image caption, Identical twins Nancy and Margo were born healthy after the procedure
A pioneering procedure using high-powered sound waves has the potential to treat identical twins affected by a serious but rare condition during early pregnancy, a study has found.
Blood flow between babies with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is uneven, leaving one baby dangerously small and the other too large, putting their survival at risk.
Brioney Garrett's identical girls' lives were in danger during her pregnancy before doctors at a London hospital used the treatment to seal blood vessels causing the problem, without needing an operation.
Following the world-first treatment, Nancy and Margo were born healthy and, now aged four, will soon start school.
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