Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in a triplet natural pregnancy: Case report from korle bu teaching hospital, Accra, Ghana and a review of the literature [Séquence de perfusion artérielle inversée dans un triplet lors d’une grossesse naturelle. Cas clinique à l’hôpital universitaire de Korle Bu, Accra, Ghana et revue de la littérature]

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence is probably the most severe malformation found in humans. It is also called acardia, acardiac twinning or acardius acephalus and is a very rare condition that occurs in monozygotic twins and rarely in triplet pregnancy. It has not been described in the West African Medical literature. A case was recorded in a twin delivery at the labour ward four years ago in the same hospital but the underlying diagnosis was not made OBJECTIVE:To describe a rare case of twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence occurring in a triplet pregnancy and review the current literature. METHODS: A case was evaluated at the delivery ward, Department of Obstetrics and the Neonatal unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital upon information from the obstetric team that a monster had been born from a triplet set. Full documentation was done. RESULTS:The case documented was a twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence in a triplet pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This rare condition has been well characterized and Obstetricians and Paediatricians should now be able to make an accurate diagnosis. © 2013, West African Journal of Medicine. All rights reserved.