[Perinatal mortality in twin pregnancy. 576 case histories (author's transl)]. / La mortalité périnatale dans la grossesse gémellaire. Etude de 576 observations.

The authors report on the result of a retrospective survey which they carried out in 8 Hospital Centres in the West of France between 1975 and 1978 and these were concerned with 576 twin pregnancies. This study confirms that the fetal prognosis in twins is precarious. The perinatal mortality is high and is made up at the same time of a stillbirth rate of 5 per cent and a neo-natal mortality rate of 6 per cent, which is mainly due to prematurity (49.6 per cent) and to intra-uterine growth retardation in 19.3 per cent. Studying these results and the figures given in the literature, the authors analyse the ways in which this mortality can be reduced: early diagnosis, rest, screening for fetal low growth and a sensible broadening of the indications for Caesarean section. This broadening appears to them to merit consideration especially in three circumstances: intra-uterine growth retardation, premature labour between the 31 and 33 week after the last period and transverse presentation of the second twin that cannot be turned.