Perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates among twin pairs at different gestational ages: Optimal delivery timing at 37 to 38 weeks' gestation

Citation
Rs. Hartley et al., Perinatal mortality and neonatal morbidity rates among twin pairs at different gestational ages: Optimal delivery timing at 37 to 38 weeks' gestation, AM J OBST G, 184(3), 2001, pp. 451-458
Citations number
22
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Medicine","da verificare
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
ISSN journal
00029378 → ACNP
Volume
184
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
451 - 458
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-9378(200102)184:3<451:PMANMR>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the gestational age at de livery associated with the lowest rates of perinatal mortality, respiratory distress syndrome, and long hospital stays among twins, with pair rates us ed to account for both infants in each twin pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a population-based retrospective study that anal yzed linked birth certificates, fetal and infant death certificates, and ho spital discharge data for 8150 twin pairs born in Washington State during 1 987 through 1997. The chi (2) or Fisher exact test was used to assess the s tatistical significance. RESULTS: The nadirs of perinatal mortality rate, respiratory distress syndr ome incidence, and long hospital stay rate were seen at delivery dates of 3 9, 40, and 38 weeks' gestation, respectively. Restriction to pairs delivere d vaginally without the induction of labor revealed that the perinatal mort ality rate was lowest for delivery at 37 weeks' gestation, the gestational age at which the highest numbers of such spontaneously timed pairs were bor n. CONCLUSION: Induction of labor should be routinely considered for twins at 37 to 38 weeks' gestation.