MATERNAL MORTALITY IN TWIN GESTATIONS

OBJECTIVE: To review various aspects of maternal morbidity and deliver y complications leading to maternal death in twin gestations. STUDY DE SIGN: Literature research. RESULTS: The incidence of maternal mortalit y associated with twin gestation is not known but can be estimated fro m a few community-based series and from studies on maternal morbidity related to twins. The combination of physiologic changes and perinatal pathologies that are either unique or more common in twin gestations (e.g., preeclampsia/eclampsia, need for tocolysis, anemia, abruptio pl acentae, special delivery circumstances and cesarean section) is certa inly increasing the maternal risk for serious morbidity and even morta lity. CONCLUSION: Twin pregnancies should be included among the catego ries of pregnancy-related maternal death in order to learn how to elim inate avoidable mortality in twin gestations.