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Maternal and neonatal outcomes in 54 triplet pregnancies managed in an Australian tertiary centre
Author(s) -
BARKEHALLTHOMAS Andrea,
WOODWARD Louise,
WALLACE Euan M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2004.00214.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , caesarean section , gestation , gestational age , incidence (geometry) , population , jaundice , pediatrics , pregnancy , premature rupture of membranes , retrospective cohort study , surgery , genetics , physics , optics , biology , environmental health
Background: To provide current data on maternal and neonatal outcomes in triplet pregnancies in an Australian population. Methods: Retrospective case note review of all triplet pregnancies managed within a single Australian tertiary centre. Results: Fifty‐four sets of triplets were managed from January 1996 to October 2002. A total of 59% resulted from the use of assisted reproductive technologies. The median gestation at delivery was 32.5 weeks (range: 21–36 weeks); 14% delivered prior to 28 weeks and 43% delivered before 32 weeks. Preterm labour and preterm rupture of membranes were the most common antenatal complications occurring in 57 and 22% of pregnancies, respectively. A total of 93% of pregnancies were delivered by Caesarean section and 37% of mothers experienced at least one post‐partum complication. A total of 96% of neonates were liveborn, with a median birthweight of 1644 g (range: 165–2888 g). The two most common neonatal complications were jaundice and hypoglycaemia in 52 and 43% of liveborn neonates, respectively. A total of 28% of neonates were below the 10th centile for gestational age and sex. A total of 8% of neonates demonstrated congenital anomalies. The perinatal mortality at a gestational age of 20–24 weeks was 100%, 22% at 25–28 weeks and zero for those babies born at 29 weeks or beyond. Conclusion: Assisted reproductive technologies contribute significantly to the incidence of triplet pregnancies. Gestational age at delivery and perinatal mortality is comparable to published international data. Triplets born in a tertiary centre beyond 28 weeks gestation have a very favourable prognosis in the newborn period.