[Triplet pregnancy complicated by intrauterine death of two fetuses--case report]

Multiple pregnancy still constitutes a difficult therapeutic problem in perinatology. The incidence of this phenomenon describes Hellin's formula: the number of twin pregnancy is 1/n, triplet--1/n 2 etc. Among complications observed in multiple pregnancy intrauterine death of one or more foetuses is not rare. Due to progressive disturbances in haemostasis the risk for a mother and remaining live foetus increases with gestation. The aim of this paper was to present a case report of triplet pregnancy complicated by an intrauterine death of two foetuses.

33 years old patient was diagnosed by ultrasound in the 19th week of her second gestation (1 child) a triplet pregnancy. Three live foetuses were seen then with biometry of about 14/15 gestational week There was one joint placenta on the back uterine wall and two children were sharing an amniotic sac. On the consecutive ultrasound examination the three foetuses were alive, but only one had a biometry for 21st week, two--were slowing down having measurements adequate for 19/20th week. After four weeks on usg the death of two siblings was confirmed (age 19/20 gestational week). One remaining live foetus was according to usg 24 weeks old. The patient was transferred to the II Dept. Even though no disturbances in coagulation were observed, low molecule heparin prophylaxis was introduced. During hospital stay a gestational diabetes was diagnosed well corrected by diet only. Coagulation parameters as well as infection indexes were regularly monitored. The foetal well-being was established by non-stress test, biophysical profile and Doppler vascular flows. After 39 days of hospitalisation an elevation of fibrin degradation products (FDP) was noted so the dosage of low molecule heparin was immediately increased to the therapeutic values. In spite of that FDP still were growing. It was decided to introduce a steroids treatment to accelerate the maturity of foetal lungs. In the 31st week according to usg, after PROM, the emergency caesarean section was performed. Daughter, breech presentation, weighting 1380 grams was born, with Apgar score 6-8-8. At the beginning artificial ventilation was necessary. After 11 days thanks to gradual improvement transfer from NICU to prematurity ward was possible. The postoperative period was uneventful and a mother was discharged home on the 7th day.

Careful monitoring of a survived foetus as well as coagulation system has allowed to extend the duration of pregnancy for further 45 days and to deliver an infant capable to live.