NCT03473158

Fetal Reduction: Mechanical vs Chemical

Early Fetal Reduction Through a Transvaginal Ultrasound Guided Approach in Multifetal Pregnancies: Mechanical Disruption Against Potassium Chloride Injection. A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (actual)
• Sponsor: Cairo University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

In this study multifetal pregnancy reduction (to twins) will be carried out through a transvaginal route, at an early gestational age (6 weeks - 9weeks + 6days) using 2 methods: mere mechanical disruption against potassium chloride injection. The 2 methods will be compared regarding the efficacy, complications and pregnancy outcome.

Detailed description

The incidence of multifetal gestations has increased dramatically over the past several decades. Multiple pregnancies are frequently complicated by maternal and fetal morbidities and mortalities. Data show that the incidence of morbidity and mortality correlate with fetal number. In the United Kingdom, the single embryo transfer policy has reduced the incidence of multifetal gestation. Also, in the United States the ASRM (American society of reproductive medicine) has revised the guidelines to optimize the number of transferred embryos during IVF. However in Egypt, transfer of 3 to 4 embryos is still practiced. The procedure of fetal reduction aims to decrease the occurrence of maternal and perinatal morbidities related to multifetal gestations. It can be carried out transvaginally or transabdominally under ultrasound guidance. It may be done by potassium chloride injection through needle injection, mere mechanical disruption by a needle, or by radiofrequency ablation. In this study multifetal pregnancy reduction will be carried out through transvaginal route, at an early gestational age (6 weeks - 9weeks + 6days), and compare the efficacy, complications and pregnancy outcome using mere mechanical disruption against potassium chloride injection.

Conditions

• Multiple Pregnancy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	Transvaginal ultrasound	using the 6.5mHz intra-cavitary probe (65EC10EA) of ultrasound machine DP-50 (Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd., P.R.China) to determine the number, site, size and cardiac activity of the fetuses, and monitor the fetal reduction procedure
PROCEDURE	Mechanical fetal reduction	under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, fetal reduction will be achieved by mechanical disruption of the fetal heart till asystole is achieved, and may be aided by partial or total suction of the fetus, using suction device attached to the embryo reduction needle (Cook® Ireland Ltd., Limerick, Ireland)
PROCEDURE	Chemical fetal reduction	under transvaginal ultrasound guidance, fetal reduction will be achieved by injecting 0.5 mL of potassium chloride (Potassium Chloride® 15% , EIPICO, Egypt) into the cardiac region through the embryo reduction needle (Cook® Ireland Ltd., Limerick, Ireland)

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-08-01
• Primary completion: 2019-03-31
• Completion: 2019-03-31
• First posted: 2018-03-22
• Last updated: 2020-10-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Egypt