[Perinatal mortality in twin pregnancies (author's transl)]

Report on the perinatal mortality of 258 twin pregnancies at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of the University of Zürich, Switzerland from 1966 to 1976. The perinatal mortality of the twin deliveries was 11.6% compared to a general perinatal mortality of 2.9%. The perinatal mortality of second twins was 14.0% compared to 9.3% for the first twin. The high incidence of abnormal presentations and operative deliveries of the second twin is discussed. The incidence of prematurity under 37 weeks gestation was 48.4%. About 70% of the perinatal mortality in twins was due to prematurity with pulmonary causes leading in 44.5% of the deaths. The difficulties in the recognition of intra-uterine growth retardation in twin pregnancies is discussed.