EFFECT OF AMNIOTIC-FLUID VOLUME ON NEONATAL OUTCOME IN DIAMNIOTIC TWIN PREGNANCIES

Problem, We assessed neonatal outcome of normal diamniotic twin pregna ncies with known amniotic fluid (AF) volume. Method. The AF volume was empirically determined in 39 diamniotic twin gestations. The neonates were stratified by AF volume and evaluated for clinical outcome, gest ational age, lecithin-sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio, and birth weight. Res ults. Neonatal complications did not significantly differ among infant s delivered from pregnancies with low (155 to 404 mL), moderate (405 t o 807 mL), or high (808 to 5,430 mL) volumes of AF. Relatively constan t volumes of AF were maintained throughout the 27 to 38 week range of gestational age, with no apparent correlation between AF volume and ge stational age. Variations in the L/S ratio and newborn birth weights w ere also independent of AF volume. Gestational age was the only signif icant determinant of the frequency of neonatal complications. Conclusi on. Amniotic fluid volume does not greatly affect neonatal outcome in normal diamniotic twin pregnancies.