In a rare situation known as a “monochorionic pregnancy,” identical twins share a single placenta while in the womb. In even rarer circumstances, this can lead to a condition called twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), which until very recently was almost always fatal for one or both fetuses. Fortunately, advances in medical science and technology now allow dedicated physicians to diagnose and potentially treat this dangerous birth complication before it can cause catastrophic harm.
Unfortunately, not every medical professional responsible for caring for pregnant women and their children meets the standard of care they are expected to uphold, as our experienced birth injury attorneys know all too well. If your child or children suffered serious or fatal harm due to mishandled TTTS, a Connecticut twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC can help you pursue comprehensive compensation for the losses your family has sustained.
When a mother is pregnant with identical twins, each twin typically has its own placenta to receive nutrients and oxygenated blood from the mother. Even in monochorionic pregnancies, where the twins share a single placenta, it usually provides enough nutrients and oxygen for both babies. However, in some situations, the blood vessels connecting each twin’s umbilical cord to the shared placenta during a monochorionic pregnancy can form abnormally, causing blood to be redirected away from one twin and toward the other.
When this happens, the twin deprived of normal blood flow may suffer a life-threatening deficiency of vital nutrients and oxygen, which in turn will drive that twin’s body to divert as much blood as possible to their brain and heart. If TTTS is left unaddressed for too long, the deprived twin may die from organ failure, creating an extremely high risk of severe or fatal harm to the surviving twin. This tragic outcome is common in TTTS malpractice claims filed in Connecticut, as our attorneys can further explain during an initial consultation.
TTTS can progress rapidly once abnormal blood vessel connections form, and even a short delay in treatment of a few weeks can have life-threatening consequences for one or both twins. For this reason, it is crucial that doctors treating mothers with monochorionic pregnancies—the only type of pregnancy in which TTTS can occur—remain highly vigilant for any signs of the condition. Signsmay include abnormal amniotic fluid levels, differences between each twin’s umbilical cords, and abnormal differences in fetal size.
Once TTTS is identified, doctors must act quickly to either drain excess amniotic fluid from the twin receiving more blood in an effort to rebalance circulation across both fetuses or perform surgery to seal abnormal blood vessel connections. Failing to diagnose TTTS despite having sufficient information to do so, or failing to address it promptly and effectively, may serve as grounds for a twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome lawsuit in Connecticut. Our lawyers are here to help your family pursue justice in these situations.
Being pregnant with identical twins or even having a monochorionic pregnancy does not guarantee that your babies will develop twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. However, physicians overseeing these types of pregnancies have a duty to recognize the risks and take appropriate steps to monitor for and respond to this condition if it arises. If your doctors failed to meet that standard of care, you may have grounds to file civil suit against them on behalf of yourself and your twins.
While money alone cannot make up for the harm caused by mishandled TTTS, civil restitution can play a key role in helping your family maintain financial stability and rebuild your quality of life after this kind of tragedy. Call today to discuss a possible claim with a Connecticut twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome lawyer from Berkowitz and Hanna LLC.
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