In a remarkable medical achievement, doctors at MGM Healthcare in Chennai successfully saved both twins of a young couple from Ambur who were facing a rare and dangerous pregnancy complication that typically claims at least one baby's life.
A Heartbreaking Diagnosis
When a software engineer and his architect wife visited doctors in Bengaluru during her 28th week of pregnancy, they received devastating news. Their unborn twins were diagnosed with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) caused by monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy - a condition where both fetuses shared a single placenta but grew in separate amniotic sacs.
The complication created an imbalanced blood flow between the twins. One baby received excessive blood volume while the other suffered from severe undernourishment. Bengaluru doctors recommended the standard laser procedure but warned that it would likely save only the stronger twin, leaving the parents heartbroken and searching for alternatives.
The Chennai Solution
The determined couple turned to MGM Healthcare in Chennai, where doctors proposed a different approach. Instead of performing the in-utero laser surgery at this advanced stage, the medical team decided on close monitoring and carefully timed delivery.
Dr. A Jaishree Gajaraj explained the critical situation: "Since they shared one placenta, abnormal vessel connections caused one baby to become volume-overloaded and the other undernourished. We knew any delay could endanger the smaller twin, but in-utero surgery wasn't the best option at this stage."
Precision Delivery and Intensive Care
The medical team faced a delicate balancing act. Senior consultant fetal medicine specialist Dr. Radhika Ramesh emphasized that "timing was precious. Delivering too soon could have hurt both babies, but waiting too long risked losing one."
The twins were eventually delivered via lower-segment caesarean section and immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The size difference was significant - the larger baby weighed 1.1kg at birth while the smaller one was just 720g.
Both infants required extensive medical support including:
- Respiratory support systems
- Treatment for anemia and clotting problems
- Intravenous nutrition until they could tolerate regular feeds
Remarkable Recovery Against All Odds
After nearly two months in intensive care, the twins showed extraordinary progress. According to head of neonatology Dr. N Chandra Kumar, both babies gained substantial weight and grew strong enough to be discharged. The larger twin now weighs approximately 2kg, while the smaller one reached about 1.5kg.
Dr. Radhika Ramesh celebrated the outcome, stating "They survived against all odds. It was an extraordinary recovery" that demonstrated how careful timing and expert neonatal care can overcome even the most challenging medical predictions.
This case highlights the importance of specialized medical intervention for rare pregnancy complications and offers hope to other couples facing similar challenges with multiple births.
