[Management of twin pregnancies currently--a prospective study]

On the basis of our own earlier studies, the progress of 80 twin pregnancies is followed in a prospective investigation. Early diagnosis makes possible numerous measures for prevention of premature birth--the central problem of twin pregnancies. A cerclage was carried out in 51 cases (63.75%). Tocolytics were administered only in demonstrated uterine contractions. 54 women with a twin pregnancy (= 67.5%) reached the 37th week of pregnancy. A surgical termination of labor was necessary in 51.9% of twin pregnancies, and the frequency of cesarian section was 33.75%. Only 17.5% of the twins were under the critical weight limit of 2000 g. The perinatal mortality is 3.75%. Five out of the six babies who died weighed less than 2000 g. Finally, the individual points of our intensive care program for twin pregnancies are discussed in detail taking the recent literature into consideration.