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Multifetal reduction of triplets to twins improves perinatal outcome
G A Macones1, G Schemmer, E Pritts
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
Objective:
Our purpose was to compare the perinatal outcome of triplet pregnancies reduced to twins with the outcomes of continuing triplet pregnancies and twin pregnancies.
Study Design:
Pregnancy outcomes of triplet pregnancies reduced to twins delivered between July 1988 and July 1992 were compared with pregnancy outcomes of continuing triplet and twin pregnancies delivered over the same time period.
Results:
The mean gestational age at delivery for the reduced triplets was 35.6 weeks, compared with 31.2 weeks in the nonreduced triplets (p = 0.002). The perinatal mortality rate was 30 per 1000 births in the reduction group and 210 per 1000 births in the nonreduced triplets (p < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences between the reduced and nonreduced twins.
Conclusion:
Multifetal pregnancy reduction of triplets to twins yields an improved perinatal outcome compared with nonreduced triplets and a similar outcome compared with nonreduced twins.