28-Week Preterm Twins Beat the Odds at MGM Healthcare, Chennai
Chennai: In a remarkable medical achievement, specialists at MGM Healthcare successfully saved the lives of 28-week preterm twins diagnosed with a rare and high-risk complication known as Monochorionic Diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancy. In this condition, twins share a common placenta but have separate amniotic sacs, often leading to Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) — where one baby receives excess blood flow while the other receives too little.
The parents, residents of Ambur — the father a software engineer and the mother an architect — had initially consulted hospitals in Bengaluru. Doctors there warned that only the larger twin was likely to survive and advised an in-utero laser intervention.
However, the team at MGM Healthcare, led by Dr. A. Jaishree Gajaraj, Head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Dr. N. Chandra Kumar, Senior Consultant & HOD – Paediatrics & Neonatology, and Dr. Radhika Ramesh, Senior Consultant, Fetal Medicine, ensured both babies were delivered safely without surgical intervention in the womb.
The twins were delivered via lower-segment caesarean section and admitted to the Neonatal ICU. After nearly two months of specialised care, they showed remarkable recovery. The first baby, born weighing 1,115 grams, grew to 2,040 grams, while the smaller twin, born at 720 grams, reached 1,500 grams by discharge.
Dr. Jaishree Gajaraj explained, “The twins shared a common placenta, and TTTS caused one to become volume-overloaded while the other was volume-depleted. With close monitoring, we were confident that in-utero surgery was not necessary and timed the delivery to maximise survival chances.”
Dr. Radhika Ramesh added, “Continuous Doppler flow studies helped us track their individual blood circulation and identify the safest moment for delivery. This precise timing was critical to ensuring both babies survived.”
Dr. Chandra Kumar noted that the twins required 55 days of NICU care, including respiratory support for 20 days, blood transfusions to treat anaemia and clotting issues, and parenteral nutrition until they could tolerate feeds. “Despite the limited hope offered elsewhere, both babies survived with intact outcomes,” he said.
This case highlights MGM Healthcare’s expertise in managing complex pregnancies and neonatal care, offering hope to families facing rare and life-threatening complications
