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.

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.