Delayed interval delivery in twin and triplet pregnancies – 6 years of experience in 1 perinatal center

Objective: What is the outcome of delayed-interval delivery for twin and triplet pregnancies at 23rd to 26th weeks’ gestation?

Study design: A prospective cohort of twin and triplet deliveries at 23rd to 26th weeks gestation age were managed with delayed interval delivery from 2005 to 2011.

Results: From 2005 until 2011 a total of around 500 twins and triplets delivered in our perinatal centre. Delayed deliveries were performed in 4 twin pregnancies and 2 triplet pregnancies between 23rd to 26th weeks gestation age. The interval between delivery of the first fetus and the remaining twin/triplets was 1 to 18 days (mean: 9.3 days). In all cases the first fetus was born vaginally. Delivery of the remaining twin/triplets was one vaginal delivery, one forceps delivery and four caesarean sections.Mean survival of the first twin/triplet was 17% whereas 50% of the second born twin/triplets survived. Due to delayed delivery birth weight gained was on average 124g. No severe maternal complications were observed.

Conclusion: In multiple pregnancies with preterm delivery between 23rd to 26th weeks gestation age delayed delivery seems to be a useful therapeutic option to achieve a better outcome of the remaining fetus.

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Twins - outcome of extremely low birth weight infants - preterm delivery - triplets delayed interval delivery