Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome and Maternal Symptomatology-An Exploratory Analysis of Patient Experiences When Reporting Complaints.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess patient experiences when reporting symptoms of twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) to their health-care providers.

METHODOLOGY

The study utilized an online, retrospective survey of women, over the age of 18, who were living in the United States at the time of their pregnancy and had completed a TTTS pregnancy.

RESULTS

Three hundred sixty-seven cases were included for analysis. Nearly half of the respondents (45.2%) reported experiencing maternal symptoms prior to TTTS diagnosis. The average number of symptoms experienced was 2.85. The average gestational week of symptom onset was 18.2. A total of 76.2% of respondents experiencing symptoms shared these concerns with their health-care provider; however, slightly more than half (51.2%) believed that the provider dismissed their complaints.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest a disconnect between patients' reporting TTTS symptoms and health-care providers responding attentively, as perceived by the patient. It would be advantageous for health-care providers to inform women pregnant with a monochorionic-diamniotic pregnancy to immediately report the presence of any symptom described in the present research, which may be associated with any number of twin pregnancy-related complications.