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Expectant management of twin pregnancy with single fetal death
Author(s) -
Santema Job G.,
Swaak Astrid M.,
Wallenburg Henk C. S.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1995.tb09021.x
Subject(s) - obstetrics , expectant management , pregnancy , twin pregnancy , fetal death , medicine , fetus , fetal monitoring , gestation , biology , genetics
ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the course and outcome of expectantly managed twin pregnancies with single fetal death in the second half of gestation. Design Case‐controlled study of 29 consecutive pregnancies from 1973 to 1993, with sonographic evidence of a twin at 20 weeks gestation with antenatal demise later in pregnancy, matched for maternal parity with 58 twin pregnancies without fetal death and delivered in the same year as the index case. Outcome measures included the incidence of complications of pregnancy, gestational age and mode of delivery, placentation, and perinatal outcome. Setting University Hospital Rotterdam. Results The frequency and severity of pregnancy‐induced hypertensive disorders was significantly higher in the study group than in controls. We found no differences between the study group and controls with regard to median gestational age at delivery (33 weeks versus 34 weeks) and median birthweight of liveborn infants (1880 g versus 2160 g). No consumptive coagulopathy was apparent in our 29 patients. The main cause of neonatal death was prematurity; multicystic encephalomalacia was not observed. Conclusions Our results support expectant management in twin pregnancies complicated by single fetal death.