Laser Surgery for TTTS

The first intrauterine laser surgery on the placenta to treat TTTS was performed in 1988 by Dr. Julian E. De Lia, Medical Director of the International Institute for the Treatment of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome. Since then, other doctors have begun offering this type of surgery. After Dr. De Lia’s center there is a list of recommended questions to ask the laser doctor, and a list of these doctors by state and by country.

Julian E. De Lia, MD, FACOG, FACS
Medical College of Wisconsin
9200 W Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414-805-4776
Toll free 855-FETALWI (338-2594)
Fetal Concerns Center of Wisconsin
jdelia@mcw.edu
USA

QUESTIONS TO ASK LASER DOCTOR

The doctor closest to you may or may not be the best choice for your situation. There are varying degrees of expertise and experience. It is important for you, as a patient, to learn as much as you can about TTTS and ask the doctor(s) you have selected the following questions:

1. How many laser surgeries have you performed?
   
2. What are your statistics in saving both babies? Ask this specifically for your placental type also (posterior or anterior)
   
3. Do you cauterize all the connecting vessels between the babies disconnecting them completely?
   
4. What type of anesthesia do you use?
   
5. If triplets, ask how many triplet pregnancies have you performed laser surgery on?
   
6. Do you perform a septostomy during surgery? Do I have the choice to reject it?
   
7. If you recommend a cord ligation, do I have the choice to reject it?
   
8. If an anterior placenta, do you make an incision using a straight scope or use a bendable scope endoscopically and why?
   
9. What is your criteria for laser surgery and why?
   
10. Do you recommend amnioreductions before laser, why or why not?
    

CALIFORNIA

Dr. Ramen Chmait
Institute for Maternal and Fetal Health
USC-Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital
Doctor's Tower
1300 North Vermont Avenue
Suite 301
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: 323-361-6099
Email: chmait@usc.edu
Nurse Coordinator: Terri Maitino, RN
www.ourbaby.org

Dr. David Schrimmer
Fetal Surgery Program
University of CA, San Diego
200 West Arbor Dr, MC 8612
San Diego, CA 92103
Phone: (866) 638-0601 Nurse Coordinator: Lynne Tobler, RN
http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/fetalsurgery/

Dr. Hanmin Lee
UCSF Fetal Treatment Center
University of California San Francisco
513 Parnassus Avenue
HSW 1601
San Francisco, CA 94143-0570
Phone: 800-RX-Fetus or 415-476-3156
Nurse Coordinator: Jody Farrell, RN
fetus@surgery.ucsf.edu
http://fetus.ucsfmedicalcenter.org

COLORADO

Dr. Timothy M. Crombleholme
Children's Hospital of Colorado, Colorado Fetal Care Center
Toll free: (855) 41-FETAL (413-3825)
Fax: (720) 777-7960
Gina Dooley, Program Assistant
http://www.maternalfetalinstitute.org/fetal-care-center

FLORIDA

Dr. Ruben Quintero
UM/Jackson Fetal Therapy Center
1611 NW 12th Ave., Room 4070
Miami, Florida 33136
Nurse coordinator: Michaela Tregembo
Phone: 305-585-6636
http://www.umjacksonfetaltherapy.com

KANSAS

Carl P. Weiner, M.D., M.B.A.
University of Kansas School of Medicine
3901 Rainbow Boulevard, MS 2028
Kansas City, KS 66160-7316
(913) 588-6250 Telephone
(913) 588-3298/6271 Facsimile
http://www.kumc.edu/cafc/

MARYLAND

Dr. Ahmet Baschat
Director of Laser Program
Dr. Chris R. Harman
Vice Chairman of the Department and Director of the Center for Advanced Fetal Care
The Center for Advanced Fetal Care
University of Maryland, Baltimore
22 South Greene Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-328-3865, Pager 410-328-2327 #5362 cell 404-804-1783
Nurse Coordinator: Kristin Pfeiffer
http://www.obgyn.umm.edu/ttts/index.html

MASSACHUSETTS

Julian N. Robinson. M.D.
Harvard Medical School
Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: 617-732-5452
Secretary for Dr. Robinson: Margie Ruiz
http://www.brighamandwomens.org/Departments_and_Services/obgyn/

MINNESOTA

Dr William A. Block Jr. and Dr. Brad Feltis
Abbott Northwestern Hospital, Piper Building
800 East 28th Street, Suite 503
Minneapolis, MN 55407
612-863-4502
http://www.allina.com/ahs/anw.nsf/page/op_perinatal

MISSOURI

Dr. Edmund Yang and Dr. Mike Vlastos
St. Louis Fetal Care Institute at
SSMHC Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
1465 South Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63104
314-268-4037
877-SSM-FETL(877-776-3385)
Email: fetalcare@ssmhc.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fetaldocs
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fetaldocs
Blog: www.fetaldocs.com
YouTube: stlfetalcare
Nurses: Katie Francis, Amanda Jones, Jenny Kaiser, and Betty June
www.stlouisfetalcare.com

NEW YORK

Dr. Lynn Simpson, Medical Director
Dr. Russell Miller
Ushta Davar Canteenwalla, MS, Clinical Coordinator
Columbia University Medical Center
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine
High-Risk Obstetrics Columbia University, Dept. OB/GYN
622 W. 168th Street, PH 16
New York, NY 10032
Phone: 877-843-2229 877-THE-BABY
http://www.prenatalpediatrics.org/multiples.html

NORTH CAROLINA

Dr. Courtney D. Stephenson
Charlotte Fetal Care Center - Levine Children's Hospital
1025 Morehead Medical Dr., Suite 500
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 877-899-2322
Phone: 877-899-CFCC
http://www.levinechildrenshospital.org/body.cfm?id=866&fr=true

OHIO

Dr. William J. Polzin and Dr. Foong-Yen Lim
Fetal Care Center of Cincinnati
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45229 Phone: 888-338-2559
http://www.fetalcarecenter.org

Dr. Richard O'Shaughnessy
OSU Medical Center
University Perinatal Consultants
2050 Kenny Road
Columbus, OH 43221
Phone: 614-293-2222
Nurse Coordinator: Karen Q Rossi, RN, BSN, MA
Phone: 614-293-8083
Email: rossi.34@osu.edu
http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/go/mfm

PENNSYLVANIA

Dr. Mark Johnson
Dr. Julie Moldenhauer
Dr. Nahla Khalek
The Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at The Children's Hospital Of Philadelphia
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
Phone: 800-468-8376
www.fetalsurgery.chop.edu

Stephen P. Emery, MD
Assistant Professor Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Magee-Womens Hospital of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Director
Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment Center of UPMC
300 Halket Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: 412-641-FDTC (3382)
E-mail: semery@magee.edu
Coordinator: Michele Clemens, MS
http://www.upmc.com/HospitalsFacilities/Hospitals/Magee/ObGynServices/FetalDiagnosisAndTreatmentCenter/Pages/OurStaff.aspx

RHODE ISLAND

Dr. Francois Luks and Dr. Stephen Carr
The Fetal Treatment Program
Hasbro Children's Hospital/Women & Infant's Hospital
Brown Medical School
101 Dudley Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-421-1939
www.fetal-treatment.org

TEXAS

Dr. Anthony Johnson
Dr Kenneth Moise, Jr.
Dr. Michael Bebbington
The Texas Fetal Center
UT Houston / Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital
6410 Fannin, Suite 210
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 832-325-7288
Phone: 832-325-7133
Toll free: 888-818-4818
Fax: 713-512-1464
Email: texasfetalcenter@uth.tmc.edu
Nurse Coordinator: Karen Moise
http://www.texasfetalcenter.com/index.html

Dr. Michael Belfort and Dr. Sina Haeri
Texas Children's Fetal Center
Texas Children's Pavilion for Women
6651 Main Street, Suite F420
Houston, TX 77030
Phone: 877-FetalRx (877-338-2579 toll free) or 832-822-2229
Fax: 832-825-9403
Coordinators: Laura Mollett and Susanne Trout
http://fetal.texaschildrens.org

UTAH

Dr. Robert Ball, Dr. Michael Belfort
St. Mark’s Hospital
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Group
1140 East 3900 South, #390
Salt Lake City, Utah 84124
Phone: 801-743-4715
Nurse Coordinator: Carrie.Gonzales1@hcahealthcare.com
http://www.mfmutah.com/fetaltherapy.htm

WASHINGTON

Dr. Martin Walker
Eastside Maternal Fetal Medicine
Evergreen Surgery and Physicians Center, Tan 240
12040 NE 128th Street
Kirkland, WA 98034
Phone: 425-899-2200
Fax: 425-899-2210
http://www.eastsidemfm.com/Laser_information.htm
Nurse Coordinator, Melissa mdorn@echc.org

WISCONSIN

Julian E. De Lia, MD, FACOG, FACS
Medical College of Wisconsin
9200 W Wisconsin Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414-805-4776
Toll free 855-FETALWI (338-2594)
Fetal Concerns Center of Wisconsin
jdelia@mcw.edu
USA

AUSTRALIA

Dr Mark Umstad
Head of Multiple Pregnancy Clinic
Royal Women's Hospital & Frances Perry House
Grattan Street
Carlton Vic 3053 Australia
Phone: 03 9221 5044
Fax: 03 9221 5244
mark.umstad@maynegroup.com

Leanne Luck
CNC High Risk Pregnancy
Westmead Hospital Australia
Phone: 9845 5555 Page no. 01728

Dr Neil Athayde
Westmead Centre, Australia
Phone: 9845 6802 or 9845 5555
Fax: 9845 7793
Neila@westgate.wh.usyd.edu.au

Dr Daniel Challis
Royal Hospital for Women
Randwick, Australia
Phone: 9382 6098 or 9382 6111
Fax: 9382 6706
Dan@challis.com.au

Dr John Smoleniec
Liverpool Hospital, Australia
Phone: 98285631 98285679
Fax: 98285672 / 98285570
John.Smoleniec@swsahs.nsw.gov.au

Dr Jan Dickinson & Dr Craig Pennel
King Edward Memorial Hospital
Perth 374 Bagot Road,
Subiaco Australia WA6008
Contact Karen Reid
Clinical Midwife Consultant
Phone:61893402705
karen.reid@health.wa.gov.au

Robert Cincotta
Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine
Mater Mothers' Hospital
South Brisbane
Queensland, Australia
Phone: 07 3840 8111 (pager 346)
Fax: 07 3840 1949
Robert_Cincotta@mater.org.au
Barbara Soong
Clinical Midwife Consultant
Phone: 07 3840 8111 (pager 894)
Fax: 07 3840 1890
b_soong@mater.org.au

Professor Nicholas Fisk, Dr Carol Portmann & Dr Greg Duncombe
Centre for Advanced Prenatal Care
Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital
Brisbane, Queensland 4029
n.fisk@uq.edu.au or carol_portmann@health.qld.gov.au
http://www.uqccr.uq.edu.au/
Phone:07 3636 4467
Fax: 073636 7798

BELGIUM

Dr. Jan DePrest
Department of Gynecologie En Verloskunde
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
UZ Leuven
University Hospital Gasthuisberg
3000 Leuven
Belgium
Phone: 016344215
Jan.Deprest@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
Project Director for the Eurofoetus Study
http://www.eurofetus.org

CANADA

Dr. Greg Ryan
Staff Perinatologist
Director, Fetal Medicine Program
Mount Sinai Hospital
Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
University of Toronto, 3201
700 University Avenue
Toronto ONT M5G 1X5 CANADA
http://www.mountsinai.on.ca/care/special-pregnancy-program/spp
Phone: 416-586-8403, Sandra Secretary
Fax: 416-586-3216
Location: 416-586-5133
gryan@mtsinai.on.ca

Dr. Francois Audibert
3175, Chemin de la Côte-Sainte-Catherine
Montréal, Quebec CANADA
H3T 1C5
Tel. : (514) 345-4931
www.chu-sainte-justine.or...fault.aspx

Dr. Richard N Brown, MBBS DFSRH FRCOG
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Ultrasound Unit
Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist
Foetal Diagnosis and Treatment Group
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology McGill University Health Centre
Royal Victoria Hospital
687 Pine Ave West, F4.29
Montreal, Quebec H3A 1A1
Phone 514-934-1934 (x36041)
Phone 514-843-1603 Patient Appointments
Fax: 514-843-1678
Contact: Lola Cartier - Coordonatrice
Email: lola.cartier@muhc.mcgill.ca
Website: www.montreal-foetal.com

DENMARK

Connie Jorgensen
Ultraljudskliniken
Juliane Marie Centret
Rigshospitalet
Blegdamsvej 9
DK-2100 København
Denmark
Phone: 3545 3545
rigshospitalet@rh.regionh.dk
www.rigshospitalet.dk

ENGLAND

Dr Ruwan Wimalasundera
Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital
Fetal Medicine Unit
Gold Hawk Road
London W6
Phone: 0181 748 4666

Dr. Kypros Nicholaides
The Harris Birthright Research Centre
Kings College School of Medicine
Denmark Hill
London SE 5 8RX, England
Phone: 0171 924-0894
Fax: 0171 738-3704
rcjbe02@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk

Amar Bhide: Consultant
Basky Thilaganathan: Clinic Director
Department of Obsttrics and Gynaecology
St. Georges Hospital
Blackshaw Road
London SW17 0QT
Tel: +44(0)20 8725 1911
Fax: +44(0)20 8725 0079
fmu@sghms.ac.uk

Mark Kilby MD FRCOG,
Fetal Medicine Centre
Birmingham Women's Foundation Trust
Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TG
Telephone number: +44-121-627-2778
Fax number : +44-121-623 6875
E-mail. M.d.kilby@bham.ac.uk

FRANCE

Yves Ville, M.D.
CH Poissy St. Germain
Dept. Obstetrique et Gynecologie
Poissy, France
yville@wanadoo.fr
One of Europe's leading practitioners of laser treatment
Project Coordinator of the Eurofoetus Study
http://www.eurofetus.org

GERMANY

Prof. Kurt Hecher
Direktor der Klinik für Geburtshilfe und Pränatalmedizin
(Chairman, Dept. of Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine)
Universitaetsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE)
Martinistrasse 52
20246 Hamburg, Germany
 
Tel. +49 40 7410 57832
Fax. +49 40 7410 46767
http://www.uke.de/kliniken/geburtshilfe/

IRELAND

Prof. Fergal Malone has been doing the surgery in the Rotunda hospital in Dublin since January 2007

MALAYSIA

Dr Japaraj Robert Peter - Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia E-Mail: japaraj@hotmail.com

THE NETHERLANDS

Leiden University Medical Center
National Center for Fetal Therapy
Albinusdreef 2
2333 AA Leiden
The Netherlands
Fetal surgeons: Dick Oepkes, MD, PhD, Annemieke Middeldorp, MD, PhD, Frans Klumper, MD
Neonatologist and TTTS placenta-expert Enrico Lopiore, MD, PhD.
Phone: +31 (0)71 526-1682/2896
Pager 8896 Fax: +31 (0)71 526-6741
email: d.oepkes@lumc.nl

SOUTH AFRICA

Dr Lut Geerts
Tygerberg Hospital
University of Stellenbosch
Tygerberg 7550
E-Mail: lgeerts@sun.ac.za

SPAIN

Dr. Eduard Gratacos
Fetal-Medicine Department Head
Clinic Barcelona Hospital Universitari
C/ Sabino de Arana, 1
08028 Barcelona, Spain
Phone: 00-34-93-277-9904
Fax: 00-34-93-227-56-05
gratacos@clinic.ub.es
Nurse Coordinator: Maria Marí
mnmari@clinic.ub.es
http://www.medicinafetalbarcelona.org/clinica/fetal-surgery/fetal-diseases/twin-twin-transfusion-syndrome_en.html

SWEDEN

Leena Garoff, M.D.
Karolinska Hospital
Stockholm, Sweden