Keyword: IVF
1 result found.
Original Article
Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(3), 2026, aubm026, https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/19196
ABSTRACT:
Background: Higher-order multifetal pregnancies following assisted conception are associated with increased risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and neonatal morbidity. Multifetal pregnancy reduction may improve outcomes, but evidence from sub-Saharan Africa remains limited.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women who underwent ultrasound-guided multifetal pregnancy reduction at Kingswill Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between January 2014 and December 2024. All pregnancies followed assisted reproductive treatment. Reduction was performed between 6 and 12 weeks using ultrasound-guided cardiac puncture followed by aspiration of the selected gestational sac, without potassium chloride injection. Maternal characteristics, procedural details, pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were extracted from clinical records and compared according to reduction before or at/after 8 weeks.
Results: Twenty-three women underwent multifetal pregnancy reduction. Mean maternal age was 32.8 ± 2.3 years, and median parity was 1 (interquartile range 0–2). Seventeen pregnancies (73.9%) were triplets and six (26.1%) were quadruplets. Reduction was performed before 8 weeks in 19 women (82.6%) and at/after 8 weeks in four (17.4%). Immediate post-procedure vaginal bleeding occurred in two women (8.7%), and no immediate post-procedure miscarriage was recorded. The take-home-baby rate was 100.0% before 8 weeks and 75.0% at/after 8 weeks. Earlier reduction was associated with higher mean birth weight, lower preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, lower preterm labour and fewer small-for-gestational-age births. No neonatal deaths or congenital malformations were recorded.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided multifetal pregnancy reduction was feasible and associated with favourable outcomes in this Nigerian fertility centre.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study included women who underwent ultrasound-guided multifetal pregnancy reduction at Kingswill Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between January 2014 and December 2024. All pregnancies followed assisted reproductive treatment. Reduction was performed between 6 and 12 weeks using ultrasound-guided cardiac puncture followed by aspiration of the selected gestational sac, without potassium chloride injection. Maternal characteristics, procedural details, pregnancy and perinatal outcomes were extracted from clinical records and compared according to reduction before or at/after 8 weeks.
Results: Twenty-three women underwent multifetal pregnancy reduction. Mean maternal age was 32.8 ± 2.3 years, and median parity was 1 (interquartile range 0–2). Seventeen pregnancies (73.9%) were triplets and six (26.1%) were quadruplets. Reduction was performed before 8 weeks in 19 women (82.6%) and at/after 8 weeks in four (17.4%). Immediate post-procedure vaginal bleeding occurred in two women (8.7%), and no immediate post-procedure miscarriage was recorded. The take-home-baby rate was 100.0% before 8 weeks and 75.0% at/after 8 weeks. Earlier reduction was associated with higher mean birth weight, lower preterm prelabour rupture of membranes, lower preterm labour and fewer small-for-gestational-age births. No neonatal deaths or congenital malformations were recorded.
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided multifetal pregnancy reduction was feasible and associated with favourable outcomes in this Nigerian fertility centre.
