[Intrauterine death of one twin in the third trimester].

OBJECTIVES

The goal of our study was the clinical characteristics of the twin gestations complicated by the intrauterine death of one fetus in the third trimester.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This study was a multicenter retrospective review of 12 twin gestations complicated by the intrauterine death of one fetus in the third trimester.

RESULTS

During the study period there were 295 twin gestations. 12 of them (4.1%) were complicated by the intrauterine death of one fetus in the third trimester. Three cases were monochorionic diamniotic and nine dichorionic. Ones gestational age of one fetus demise ranged from 25 to 37 (mean 30.0) weeks. Delivery was performed between 25 and 38 (mean 32.1) weeks. In monochorionic twin gestation the intrauterine death of one twin occurred earlier in gestation, had a shorter duration between the death and delivery, and delivered earlier in gestation. One liveborn infant with monochorionic and two with dichorionic placentation died in the postnatal period. Maternal coagulation changes did not occur in those cases. All live-born infants were without evidence of hematological abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the risk of morbidity and mortality for the living twin is increased, after the death of its sibling, in case of monochorial placentation.