Pre-birth Surgery: Miracle Twins Survive Rare Condition

Published: February 17, 2009 | 7376th good news item since 2003

Every year one in 10 twins is diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome; a rare and often deadly condition where twins share one and the same placenta.

Ronna and Doug Wilson’s baby boys Harrison and Dillon were on the wrong side of those odds.

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See also:

• › Medical Breakthrough Saves Local Twins
  
• › Irish twins saved by miracle operation in womb
  

In her 18th week doctors of Houston’s Texas Children’s Fetal Center diagnosed her with the condition.

They suggested a pre-birth surgery during which the placenta would be split up to create two distinct placentas.

Only 11 institutions in the USA perform the procedure. Only 65% of babies survive the procedure.

The success rate depends largely on how early the condition is diagnosed.

“Our plan is to go in with a very tiny telescope in the sac of the recipient and operate underwater.

We actually take a laser light.

I wish we could get them all early, so we can anticipate the problems”
– Dr. Kenneth Moise, Texas Children’s Fetal Center

The procedure was a complete success.

“He smiles a lot, and he frowns. That’s really the only way we can tell the difference between the two of them.

They’re so much fun. Miracles!
– Ronna

About Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome

Published in Kids & Teens
See also: www.wane.com