Neonatal mortality in second twin according to cause of death, gestational age, and mode of delivery

Shi Wu Wen; Karen Fung Kee Fung; Lawrence Oppenheimer; Kitaw Demissie; Qiuying Yang; Mark Walker

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2004.05.013

Neonatal mortality in second twin according to cause of death, gestational age, and mode of delivery

Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Sep;191(3):778-83. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.05.013.

Authors

Shi Wu Wen¹, Karen Fung Kee Fung, Lawrence Oppenheimer, Kitaw Demissie, Qiuying Yang, Mark Walker

Affiliation

¹ OMNI Research Group, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. swwen@ohri.ca

PMID: 15467540
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2004.05.013

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of neonatal death in the second twin.

Study design: We carried out a retrospective cohort study of 128,219 live born second twins in the United States for the years 1995 through 1997. The study subjects were divided into 3 groups: second twins who were delivered by cesarean delivery after vaginal delivery of the first twin (group 1), both twins delivered vaginally (group 2), and both twins delivered by cesarean delivery (group 3).

Results: The risk of asphyxia-related neonatal deaths was increased in groups 1 and 2; the increased risk in group 1 was stronger in term births than in preterm births.

Conclusion: The risk of neonatal deaths, especially for term infants with asphyxia-related deaths, is increased for the second twins who are delivered by cesarean delivery after vaginal delivery of the first twins.

MeSH terms

Adult
Asphyxia Neonatorum / mortality
Birth Order*
Cause of Death*
Cesarean Section
Cohort Studies
Delivery, Obstetric / methods*
Diseases in Twins / epidemiology
Female
Gestational Age*
Humans
Infant Mortality*
Infant, Newborn
Odds Ratio
Pregnancy
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Twins*