Perinatal mortality and mode of delivery in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies ≥32 weeks of gestation: a multicentre retrospective cohort study

• Published in: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 118; no. 9; pp. 1090 - 1097
• Main Authors: Hack, KEA, Derks, JB, Elias, SG, van Mameren, FA, Koopman‐Esseboom, C, Mol, BWJ, Lopriore, E, Schaap, AHP, Arabin, B, Duvekot, JJ, Go, ATJI, Wieselmann, E, Eggink, AJ, Willekes, C, Vandenbussche, FPHA, Visser, GHA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2011; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Cesarean Section - adverse effects; Cohort Studies; Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation; Female; Female preponderance in twins; Fetal Death - epidemiology; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant Mortality; Infant, Newborn; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal - utilization; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; mode of delivery; monochorionic; Netherlands - epidemiology; optimal time of delivery; perinatal mortality; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, Multiple; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn - epidemiology; Retrospective Studies; Trial of Labor; twin; Twins, Monozygotic; Young Adult; Netherlands; Pregnancy; Monochorionic twins; Prognosis; Cohort study; Gynecology; Mortality; Perinatal; Delivery; Epidemiology; Obstetrics; Gestational age; Retrospective
• ISSN: 1470-0328; 1471-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2011.02955.x

Please cite this paper as: Hack K, Derks J, Elias S, van Mameren F, Koopman‐Esseboom C, Mol B, Lopriore E, Schaap A, Arabin B, Duvekot J, Go A, Wieselmann E, Eggink A, Willekes C, Vandenbussche F, Visser G. Perinatal mortality and mode of delivery in monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies ≥32 weeks of gestation: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. BJOG 2011;118:1090–1097. Objective  To study perinatal mortality rates in a cohort of 465 monochorionic (MC) twins without twin‐twin transfusion syndrome (TTS) born at 32 weeks of gestation or later since reported interauterine fetal death (IUFD) rates >32 weeks of gestations in the literature vary, leading to varying recommendations on the optimal timing of delivery, and to investigate the relation between perinatal mortality and mode of delivery. Design  Multicentre retrospective cohort study. Setting  Ten perinatal referral centres in the Netherlands. Population  All MC twin pregnancies without TTTS delivered at ≥32 weeks of gestation between January 2000 and December 2005. Methods  The medical records of all MC twin pregnancies without TTTS delivered at the ten perinatal referral centres in the Netherlands between January 2000 and December 2005 were reviewed. Main outcome measures  Perinatal mortality in relation to gestational age and mode of delivery at ≥32 weeks of gestation. Results  After 32 weeks of gestation, five out of 930 fetuses died in utero and there were six neonatal deaths (6 per 1000 infants). In women who delivered ≥37 weeks, perinatal mortality was 7 per 1000 infants. Trial of labour was attempted in 376 women and was successful in 77%. There were three deaths in deliveries with a trial of labour (8 per 1000 deliveries), of which two were related to mode of delivery. Infants born by caesarean section without labour had an increased risk of neonatal morbidity and respiratory distress syndrome. Conclusions  In MC twin pregnancies the incidence of intrauterine fetal death is low ≥32 weeks of gestation. Therefore, planned preterm delivery before 36 weeks does not seem to be justified. The risk of intrapartum death is also low, at least in tertiary centres.