Laser ablation of placental anastomoses in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome: preoperative predictors of death by recursive partitioning.

Objective The aim of this study was to develop a simple clinical algorithm for prediction of donor and recipient death using yes'or no' questions through the process of recursive partitioning for patients undergoing laser therapy for twin to twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). The intent was to identify a subset of patients with very high specificity to whom clinical decisions would be simplified. Method Secondary analysis of data retrospectively collected from laser procedures was performed for TTTS at NAFTNet centers from 2002 to 2009. Preoperative factors associated with donor and recipient death were identified by recursive partitioning regression analysis. Classification And Regression Trees (CARTs) were developed to refine specificity for prediction of death. Results There were 466 TTTS patients from eight centers. CARTs were obtained for prediction of donor death. Improved specificity was achieved through recursive partitioning as demonstrated in receiver operator characteristic curves for prediction of death of the donor. There was less than optimal predictive ability for prediction of death in the recipient, as demonstrated by lack of generation of CARTs. Conclusion Recursive partitioning improves the specificity and refines the prediction of donor fetal and neonatal demise in TTTS treated with laser therapy. This has the potential to improve therapeutic choices and refine counseling regarding outcomes. (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.