Korean J Perinatol.
2002 Mar;13(1):47-51.
A Case of Acardiac Twin
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Kangnung, Korea.
Abstract
- The acardiac twin is very rare congenital malformation of monozygotic multiple gestations affecting 1% of monozygotic twins, or 1 in 35000 births. The acardiac twin has a parasitic existence and depends on the donor twin for its blood supply via placental anastomoses and retrograde perfusion of the acardiac umbilical cord. Acardiac twin places the normal twin at risk for high output cardiac failure and in utero fetal death and may lead to polyhydramnios and its related complications. The mortality rate is reported to be between 50% and 75% for the normal twin. We recently experienced a case of acadius anceps with a normal twin death in uterus, so present with a brief review of the literature.
