Maternal and neonatal outcome of twin

pregnancies complicated by single fetal

death
R. Axt / D. Mink / J. Hendrik / K. Ertan / M. von Blohn / W. Schmidt
Citation Information: Journal of Perinatal Medicine. Volume 27, Issue 3, Pages 221227,
ISSN (Print) 0300-5577, DOI: 10.1515/JPM.1999.031, June 2005

Publication History
Published Online:
2005-06-01

Abstract
Objective: To study the maternal and neonatal outcome of twin pregnancies complicated by
the intrauterine death of one fetus after 20 weeks of gestation.
Design: Retrospective, observational study of 7 twin pregnancies out of 185 twin pregnancies
with the diagnosis of a single intrauterine death over a 5-years period in a university hospital.
Results: The incidence of single fetal death in twin gestation after 20 weeks was 3.8% in the
study population with a high incidence of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) of the
remaining fetus and preeclampsia in the further course of pregnancy. The incidence of
preterm delivery was 71% with a mean gestational age of 33.0 1.0 weeks. The median
interval from diagnosis of single fetal death to delivery was 10.2 4.1 days (range 128
days). 5 of 7 (71 %) cases were delivered by cesarean section for standard obstetrical reasons.
Neither perinatal nor neonatal death of the remaining twin were observed. Two cases of
neurologic injury were diagnosed after delivery by ultrasound and MRI. No maternal
coagulopathy related to single fetal death occured.
Conclusion: Expectant management of single fetal death in twin pregnancies might be
advisible under close surveillance of both, mother and the surviving fetus.