[Triplets and quadruplets in Switzerland, 1985-1988]

To determine the incidence of multiple births and associated morbidity and mortality, we collected in a retrospective study all the multiple births (twins excluded) in Switzerland from 1985 to 1988. In all we followed 77 sets of triplets and 9 sets of quadruplets, representing an annual incidence of 1/3968 births for the triplets and 1/33,947 births for the quadruplets. The incidence of induced pregnancies increased in the period 1985 to 1988. The principal complications were premature contractions and preeclampsia. Only 56% of the children were born in a hospital with a neonatal intensive care unit. The mean gestational age was 33 0/7 weeks (ranging from 25 0/7 to 38 5/7) for the triplets, and 30 5/7 weeks (ranging from 27 5/7 to 36 3/7) for the quadruplets. The mean birthweight was 1787 g (ranging from 560 to 3000 g) for the triplets and 1189 g (ranging from 590 to 1980 g) for the quadruplets. RDS was found to be the principal neonatal pathology (65.5% of triplets and 85.2% of quadruplets) with 18.8% of triplets and 61.8% of quadruplets requiring ventilation. The mortality rate in our study was 8.9% for triplets and 14.7% for quadruplets.