RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to estimate the success rate of vaginal delivery after trial of labor (TOL) and to analyze the neonatal outcome of vertex-vertex (V-V) and vertex-nonvertex (V-NV) second twin according to the mode of delivery. METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of V-V and V-NV twin delivered between December 1996 and February 2006. The patients were classified as TOL group and elective cesarean delivery (ECD) group to compare of the neonatal morbidity and mortality in second twin. Neonatal morbidity included intraventricular hemorrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and birth trauma. Student t-test, Mann-Whtiney U test, Pearson's chi-square, and Fisher's exact were performed for the comparison of the neonatal outcome in second twin according to the groups. RESULTS: There are 349 eligible cases within given period. The proportions of TOL and ECD were 49% (n=170) and 51% (n=179), respectively. The success rates of vaginal delivery after TOL were 75% (n=93) in V-V twin and 70% (n=32) in V-NV twin. There were no significant differences in the neonatal outcome between TOL and ECD group. Additionally there were no significant differences in the neonatal outcome between cesarean delivery after the failure of TOL (n=45) and ECD group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that TOL in V-V and V-NV twin may be a safe method and can reduce the rate of ECD without adverse effect on neonatal outcome of second twin unless there are other obstetrical indications for cesarean delivery.