A comparison of the neonatal morbidity of second twins to that of a low-risk population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the neonatal morbidity of second twins. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study in a department of perinatalogy. The neonatal morbidity of second twins was compared to that of a low-risk population: singletons in the cephalic presentation delivered vaginally. RESULTS: Five hundred fifty-nine second twins and 18,061 vaginally delivered singletons in the cephalic presentation were studied. Of 452 (81%) second twins delivered vaginally, 310 (69%) were extracted using obstetrical maneuvers: internal version and breech extraction, breech extraction alone, or assisted breech delivery if the breech was already engaged. Before 33 weeks of gestation, there was no significant difference between the neonatal morbidity of the vaginally delivered second twins and the vaginally delivered singletons in the cephalic presentation. After 33 weeks of gestation, only the 1-min Apgar score <7 and the rate of intubation at birth were significantly higher in the second twins. Whatever the gestational age, there was no significant difference between the neonatal morbidity of the vaginally delivered second twins and that of the second twins born by cesarean section before labor. At comparable gestational ages, there was no significant difference between the death rate of the vaginally delivered second twins and that in the reference population. CONCLUSION: The neonatal morbidity of second twins was comparable to that of a low-risk population. Immediate management of the vaginally delivered second twins was, however, more intensive than that of vaginally delivered singletons in the cephalic presentation. It, therefore, requires appropriate equipment in a suitable obstetric-pediatric setting.

In utero fetal cerebral intraparenchymal ischemia diagnosed by nuclear magnetic resonance.

Fetal brain damage can have many causes, the most common being possibly asphyxia which is often associated with intrauterine growth retardation. Early recognition of cerebral lesions is important in guiding obstetrical management. A case of antenatal cerebral intraparenchymal ischemia diagnosed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) earlier than cerebral ultrasound examination is reported. This case report indicates that NMR may be a useful tool for the early detection of cerebral impairment in severe fetal growth retardation.