Delayed delivery of a twin - a hazard or an acceptable method? Prospective study.


  Vol. 33 (1) 2012 Neuro endocrinology letters Journal Article   2012; 33(1): 98-101 PubMed PMID:  22467119    Citation  Keywords:  Abortion, Spontaneous, Delivery, Obstetric, Humans, Premature Birth, Prospective Studies, Twins,.   

OBJECTIVE: To examine the possibility of postponement of the delivery of fetus B after preterm delivery or late abortion of fetus A in multiple pregnancy.

METHODS: Between January 2000 and September 2010, we tried to delay delivery of the second twin in 18 cases. Group A includes women that experienced a preterm premature rupture of the membranes in fetus A (PPROM), group B includes women who presented with regular uterine activity and the vaginal finding indicated unavoidable late miscarriage or preterm delivery.

RESULTS: Thirteen (72.22%) of the 18 attempts were evaluated as unsuccessful. The interval of delay of delivery of fetus B ranged between 24 and 384 hours. Five cases were successful.

CONCLUSION: Indication for applying this therapeutic procedure to a pregnant woman must be strictly selective. The procedure will be also in future more or less reserved for women in which subsequent pregnancy is for different reasons highly improbable.


 Full text PDF