TY - JOUR
T1 - Is size discordancy an indication for delivery of preterm twins?
AU - Talbot, G. T.
AU - Goldstein, R. F.
AU - Nesbitt, T.
AU - Johnson, J. L.
AU - Kay, H. H.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the clinical significance of size discordancy in preterm twins. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed to review outcomes of twins delivered between Jan. 1, 1988, and June 30, 1995. Maternal and neonatal records were assessed for demographic data, maternal medical history, and neonatal mortality and morbidity outcomes. Discordancy was defined as ≤20% difference in birth weight. The χ2 analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were 42 sets of discordant twins and 77 sets of concordant twins in the final analysis. The distribution of gestational ages in both groups was similar. We found no difference in maternal morbidity between the groups. Discordant sets had a significantly longer hospital stay (p = 0.003) and more cases of hyperbilirubinemia (p = 0.01), but there were no other differences in morbid outcomes. There were no differences in outcome variables between the two twins within discordant sets with respect to gender, size, birth order, growth restriction, or route of delivery. There were no stillbirths among any of the 238 infants. Of the 15 neonatal deaths, none occurred in infants delivered after 32 weeks' gestation or in infants weighing >2000 gm at birth. Infants who were small for gestational age had a higher incidence of sepsis (p = 0.043) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.005) compared with infants who were appropriate for gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Size discordancy alone does not appear to be an indication for preterm delivery of twins. When results of antenatal testing are normal and growth restriction is absent, attempts should be made to achieve a gestational age >32 weeks and weight >2000 gm before delivery is considered.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to determine the clinical significance of size discordancy in preterm twins. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed to review outcomes of twins delivered between Jan. 1, 1988, and June 30, 1995. Maternal and neonatal records were assessed for demographic data, maternal medical history, and neonatal mortality and morbidity outcomes. Discordancy was defined as ≤20% difference in birth weight. The χ2 analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were 42 sets of discordant twins and 77 sets of concordant twins in the final analysis. The distribution of gestational ages in both groups was similar. We found no difference in maternal morbidity between the groups. Discordant sets had a significantly longer hospital stay (p = 0.003) and more cases of hyperbilirubinemia (p = 0.01), but there were no other differences in morbid outcomes. There were no differences in outcome variables between the two twins within discordant sets with respect to gender, size, birth order, growth restriction, or route of delivery. There were no stillbirths among any of the 238 infants. Of the 15 neonatal deaths, none occurred in infants delivered after 32 weeks' gestation or in infants weighing >2000 gm at birth. Infants who were small for gestational age had a higher incidence of sepsis (p = 0.043) and longer hospital stays (p = 0.005) compared with infants who were appropriate for gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Size discordancy alone does not appear to be an indication for preterm delivery of twins. When results of antenatal testing are normal and growth restriction is absent, attempts should be made to achieve a gestational age >32 weeks and weight >2000 gm before delivery is considered.
KW - Discordant twins
KW - Preterm delivery
KW - Twin pregnancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030816887&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030816887&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70013-9
DO - 10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70013-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 9396892
AN - SCOPUS:0030816887
SN - 0002-9378
VL - 177
SP - 1050
EP - 1054
JO - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
JF - American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
IS - 5
ER -