ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to see whether the incidence of RDS (respiratory distress syndrome) in premature twin is higher than in premature singleton, and to see the clinical difference between the groups. METHODS: Seventy seven premature twins with respiratory distress syndrome who admitted to the department of Pediatrics, Catholic University Medical Center and Chonnam University Hospital for 5 years from Jan. 1998 to Dec. 2002 were enrolled. They were classified with group A in which both of twins have RDS (A1=25, A2=25), group B1 (B1=14) in which first twin has the RDS and group B2 (B2=13) in which second twin has the RDS. Incidence rate of RDS, birth order, gender, delivery mode, gestational week, birth weight, Apgar score, use of surfactant, and mortality rate between groups were also compared. RESULTS: Premature twins have higher incidence of RDS than premature singletons. The RDS is more often than in female. The average gestational week was 30.5 in A, 32.6 in B1, 32.1 in B2, and the average birth weight (gm) was 1,470 (A1), 1,464 (A2), 1,803 (B1), 1,687 (B2). Gender, delivery mode, Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minute, use of surfactant, and mortality rate and morbidity showed no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Premature twins are more prevalent to RDS than premature singletons. The second twin don't likely to have the RDS than the first baby, but the special care is required because their mortality rate and morbidity were more or less higher.