TWINS AND PRETERM LABOR

Citation
Oa. Rust et al., TWINS AND PRETERM LABOR, Journal of reproductive medicine, 42(4), 1997, pp. 229-234
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Obsetric & Gynecology
ISSN journal
00247758
Volume
42
Issue
4
Year of publication
1997
Pages
229 - 234
Database
ISI
SICI code
0024-7758(1997)42:4<229:TAPL>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of home uterine contraction assessment (HUCA) in twin pregnancies with preterm labor (PTL) at < 24 weeks' ge station. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective, analytic study, patients were stratified by whether HUCA had been prescribed before or after d iagnosis of PTL. The main outcomes studied were time of PTL diagnosis and delivery as well as birth weight and need for neonatal intensive c are unit (NICU) admission. In 63 patients, 32 were prescribed HUCA aft er PTL had been arrested at < 24 weeks (group I). Thirty-one women had HUCA prescribed at 20 weeks' gestational age and then developed PTL a t < 24 weeks (group II). RESULTS: Labor was diagnosed at similar times in both groups (22.8 vs 23.4 weeks), but delivery was earlier in grou p I (27.6 weeks vs. 34.7 weeks) than in group II. The birth weight in group I was less (918 +/- 255 g), and of the 64 infants, 55 required N ICU admission as compared to 2,340 +/- 525 g and 11 of 62 infants (P < .0001, .0001) in group II, respectively. CONCLUSION: Women with twin gestations and the diagnosis of PTL prior to 24 weeks deliver later in gestation, and their infants weigh more and have fewer NICU admission s if intensive prenatal surveillance is prescribed prior to the onset of labor.