[Twin pregnancy with intrauterine death of one fetus: maternal and neonatal outcome of surviving fetus].

BACKGROUND: happens in the womb when the death of one of the twins, it is necessary to consider the factors that influence the perinatal outcome of surviving fetus.

OBJECTIVE: To review the outcome of twin pregnancies complicated by single fetal intrauterine death and how it can increase morbidity to its co-twin and its mother.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the fifty one twin pregnancies complicated by single fetal intrauterine death in the second or third trimester in our centre from December 1999 to December 2010.

RESULTS: Of the total amount of 1996 twin pregnancies attended in our centre, 51 were complicated by single fetal intrauterine death (2.5%). In 68.7% of the cases we found several maternal complications, such as 12.2% of preeclampsia and 12% of coagulopathies. As for the dead foetus, there was a 47% of malformations, a 19.6% of intrauterine fetal growth restriction and there was a 9.8% of cases complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome. In the group of the surviving co-twin, 9.8% developed intrauterine growth restriction, 9.8% oligohydramnios and 9.8% Doppler alterations. There was a high risk of prematurity with 43.1% of the births under 34 weeks and 13.7% under 30 weeks of pregnancy. The percentage of caesarean was 64.7%. There was 3 cases of co-twin died intra-uterus, and one more died postpartum. A 10% of the newborns had some kind of neurological disability.

CONCLUSIONS: It seems that surviving co-twin prognosis is mainly compromised by prematurity and its consequences. There should be more prospective research to inform decision-making and evaluate and control the potential maternal and fetal risks.