TAMPA, Fla., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- World-renowned fetal surgeon Ruben Quintero M.D. has developed a new technique to treat twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition affecting ten percent of identical twins in utero. His work is documented in the December issue of Gynecological and Obstetrics Survey released today.

TTTS results from an unbalanced flow of blood between two fetuses sharing a common placenta. Normally, Quintero explains, the vascular systems of both fetuses form a V, meaning that blood travels to the placenta via arteries, picks up oxygen and nutrients and returns to each fetus via veins.

In TTTS, the vascular systems are altered as some arteries deliver the blood of one fetus (Donor) to the placenta but the veins return the blood to the other fetus (Recipient). Consequently, the Donor fetus becomes deprived while the Recipient fetus becomes overwhelmed. Without surgical intervention both babies could die.

Local residents Mercy and Tim Carleton discovered that their twins suffered from the condition in July 1998 when Mercy had her first sonogram at 19 weeks. "It was hard to hear," said the young mother, "but Dr. Quintero gave us hope."

Days later Carleton underwent surgery. Inserting an endoscope into the sac of the recipient twin, Quintero was able to follow each vessel from the umbilical cord into the placenta, selectively identifying those arteries that were not paired with a return vein. Next, he worked through an operative endoscope to laser the aberrant vessels, allowing each fetus to maintain its own blood volume.

In October 1998, Mercy delivered healthy twins. "We were so thankful to Dr. Quintero," Mercy said. "They are our miracle babies."

Quintero has utilized his selective technique in nineteen cases. In 70 percent of those cases, one baby or more survived.

TTTS had previously been treated by severing all vessels that cross the dividing membrane between the amniotic sacs. "Now we have an anatomical and scientific way of eliminating all vascular communication between two identical twins while sparing vessels essential to survival of the fetuses," Quintero said.

Quintero, who introduced minimally invasive in utero surgery in 1992 at Detroit's Wayne State University/Hutzel Hospital, joined Florida Perinatal Associates and opened the Florida Institute for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital in 1996.

SOURCE St. Joseph's Hospital.