INTRAPARTUM MANAGEMENT OF TWIN GESTATION

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 65  (1) , 119-124
Abstract
Neonatal mortality and morbidity were analyzed in 362 pairs of twins delivered at Yale-New Haven Medical Center [USA], during a 5-yr period. Of the 154 (42.5%) pairs in vertex-vertex presentations, 125 (81.2%) were delivered vaginally. No difference in the occurrence of low 5-min Apgar scores was found in relation to the length of time interval between delivery of the twins. Of the 139 (38.4%) twins in vertex-nonvertex presentations, 99 (71.2%) were delivered vaginally. In the entire series, there was 1 case of significant birth trauma related to vaginal delivery of a nonvertex second twin. The 1 instance of neonatal death clearly related to birth asphyxia resulted after cesarean section. A protocol for the intrapartum management of twin gestations is presented based upon intrapartum fetal presentation and sonographically determined estimated fetal weight.