Adverse perinatal outcomes related to the delivery mode in women with monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies.

AIMS: The association between the planned delivery mode and adverse perinatal outcomes of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twin pregnancies at ≥36 weeks' gestation was evaluated.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included uncomplicated MCDA twin pregnancies delivered after 36 weeks' gestation during a 10-year period. Cases were classified into the trial of labor (TOL) or cesarean section (CS) group according to the planned delivery mode. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse outcomes for at least one twin, including intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) after 36 weeks, neonatal death, umbilical artery pH<7.1, 5-min Apgar scores<7, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), or acute feto-fetal hemorrhage (AFFH). The relationship between outcomes and the planned delivery mode was evaluated using a multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

We included the 310 pregnancies delivered after 36 weeks' gestation. After excluding 15 patients, the final analysis included 295 MCDA pregnancies: 63% had delivered through TOL and 37% through CS. The incidences of composite adverse outcomes in the TOL and CS groups were 4.3% and 1.9%, respectively. No IUFD, neonatal death, MAS, RDS, or AFFH was observed; two infants in each group developed HIE. Adverse outcomes were not significantly associated with any risk factor, including delivery through TOL.

CONCLUSION

TOL may not influence the perinatal outcomes of MCDA twin pregnancies delivered at ≥36 weeks' gestation.