Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence and routine monitoring practices amongst maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the United States: an initial investigation

Twin anemia-polycythemia sequence and routine monitoring practices amongst maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the United States: an initial investigation

Nicholas Lauren D; Fischbein Rebecca L; Bhamidipalli Surya S

Journal of Perinatal Medicine

2019

2019-05

Background The purpose of this initial investigation was to begin to understand the routine twin anemia-polycythemia sequence (TAPS) monitoring practices of maternal-fetal medicine specialists (MFM specialists) in the United States in the absence of a formal guideline. Methods This study used an anonymous, online survey of 90 MFM specialists who were practicing in the United States. A $5 gift card to an online store was used to incentivize participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Results All MFM specialists reported at least some familiarity (100.00%) with TAPS. Most participants (92.94%) were familiar with methods for monitoring patients for TAPS and nearly all (97.50%) responded that they use 'Doppler MCA-PSV' to make a prenatal TAPS diagnosis. Nearly two-thirds of MFM specialists surveyed (65.06%) reported performing regular TAPS monitoring for patients with monochorionic-diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies. Conclusion Despite no formal guidelines, the majority of American MFM specialists surveyed are using routine TAPS screening in their management of MCDA twin pregnancies, suggesting that the MFM specialists included in this study consider it a valuable diagnostic tool. Future research should further explore this possible trend toward routine TAPS monitoring amongst MFM specialists in the United States, as well as the potential value of routine TAPS monitoring in MCDA pregnancy.

diagnosis; maternal-fetal medicine; monitoring; monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancy; routine monitoring; twin anemia-polycythemia sequence

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