Laser surgery or watchful waiting? trial seeks best care for twin syndrome

NCT ID NCT01220011

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial compared two approaches for twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) stage 1: immediate laser surgery versus careful observation. 179 pregnant women with TTTS stage 1 and favorable conditions took part. The goal was to see which strategy leads to better survival and brain health for the babies at 6 months of age.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Fetoscopic laser surgery
What this could lead to
If laser surgery proves better, it could become the standard treatment for early-stage TTTS, improving survival and reducing brain damage in twins.
What could go wrong
This is a completed trial with 179 participants, so results are limited. Laser surgery carries risks like preterm labor or infection, and the benefit over observation may be small or none.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Children's Hospital Colorado and Colorado Fetal Care Center

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

  • Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229-3026, United States

  • Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • Fetal Therapy Program, Evergrenn Hospital Medical Center

    Kirkland, Washington, 98034, United States

  • Fetal Treatment Program of New England, Hasbro Children's Hospital, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

    Providence, Rhode Island, 02903, United States

  • Hospital Ste-Justine

    Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1R2, Canada

  • Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto

    Toronto, Ontario, ON M5X 1X5, Canada

  • Necker Enfants Malades

    Paris, 75006, France

  • The Ohio State University / OSU Fetal Therapy Program

    Columbus, Ohio, 43221, United States

  • The Texas Fetal Center, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, University of Texas Medical School

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • University of MD /Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

    Baltimore, Maryland, 21000, United States

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