[Neonatal outcome of triplets]. / Evolución neonatal de los recién nacidos trillizos (desde el nacimiento hasta el alta hospitalaria).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the neonatal morbidity and mortality in triplets. METHOD: Retrospective study of 189 triplets born between January'98 and December'04. RESULTS: Mean maternal age was 33 years. Of the pregnancies, 71.4 % were achieved using fertilization techniques, 84 % received antenatal steroids and 96.8 % of births were by caesarean section. The mean gestational age was 32 weeks (246-355), with a mean birth weight of 1,500 g (450-2,650). There 53.4 % were female neonates. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at birth was not required by 82 %, 13.5 % required bag-mask ventilation and 4.9 % required advanced CPR. Low/moderate respiratory distress syndrome was observed in 27 % of the infants (oxygen/CPAP), and 19 % required mechanical ventilation and surfactant. 12 % showed patent ductus arteriosus was seen in 12 %, necrotizing enterocolitis in 4.2 %, sepsis (vertical and nosocomial), 17 %, grade III retinopathy in 1.1 % and 7.4 % had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Grade III/IV intraventricular haemorrhage was present in 4.2 %, and 3.2 % periventricular leukomalacia. Survival rate at discharge from hospital was 95.2 %. Of those, 10 % showed risk of serious sequelae defined as: grade III-IV intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, grade III retinopathy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. There were no major complications in 64.5 % of the children. Despite a prematurity rate of 100 %, this large series of triplets shows an excellent survival and a relatively low serious associated morbidity. It is also important to point out the intensive perinatological follow-up to which these pregnancies are subject.

Evolución neonatal de los recién nacidos trillizos (desde el nacimiento hasta el alta hospitalaria) / Neonatal outcome of triplets

Objetivo: Determinar la morbilidad y la mortalidad neonatales de los trillizos. Método: Estudio retrospectivo de 189 trillizos nacidos entre enero de 1998 y diciembre de 2004. Resultados: La edad media materna fue de 33 años. El 71,4 % de las gestaciones se obtuvieron mediante técnicas de reproducción asistida. El 84 % recibió corticoides prenatales. El 96,8 % nació mediante cesárea. La edad gestacional media fue de 32 semanas (246-355), con peso medio de 1.500 g (450-2.650). El 53,4 % fueron niñas. El 82 % no necesitó reanimación al nacer, el 13,5 % requirió reanimación con bolsa autoinflable y el 4,9 %, reanimación avanzada. El 27 % de los neonatos presentaron síndrome de distrés respiratorio leve/moderado (oxígeno/CPAP) y el 19 %, grave (ventilación mecánica/agente tensiactivo). El 12 % presentó ductus arterioso persistente; el 4,2 %, enterocolitis; el 17 %, sepsis (vertical y nosocomial); el 1,1 %, retinopatía de grado III, y el 7,4 %, displasia broncopulmonar. El 4,2 % presentó hemorragia intraventricular (HIV) grado III-IV, y el 3,2 %, leucomalacia periventricular. La supervivencia al recibir el alta fue del 95,2 %, el 10 % mostraron signos de riesgo de secuelas graves, definidas como: HIV grado III-IV, leucomalacia periventricular, retinopatía grado III y displasia broncopulmonar. El 64,5 % de los neonatos no presentaron ninguna complicación destacable durante su ingreso. Aunque la incidencia de prematuridad es del 100 %, esta serie larga de trillizos muestra una excelente supervivencia y una morbilidad grave asociada relativamente baja. Destaca el elevado control perinatológico de estas gestaciones (AU)

Objective: To determine the neonatal morbidity and mortality in triplets. Method: Retrospective study of 189 triplets born between January'98 and December'04. Results: Mean maternal age was 33 years. Of the pregnancies, 71.4 % were achieved using fertilization techniques, 84 % received antenatal steroids and 96.8 % of births were by caesarean section. The mean gestational age was 32 weeks (246-355), with a mean birth weight of 1,500 g (450-2,650). There 53.4 % were female neonates. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) at birth was not required by 82 %, 13.5 % required bag-mask ventilation and 4.9 % required advanced CPR. Low/moderate respiratory distress syndrome was observed in 27 % of the infants (oxygen/CPAP), and 19 % required mechanical ventilation and surfactant. 12 % showed patent ductus arteriosus was seen in 12 %, necrotizing enterocolitis in 4.2 %, sepsis (vertical and nosocomial), 17 %, grade III retinopathy in 1.1 % and 7.4 % had bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Grade III/IV intraventricular haemorrhage was present in 4.2 %, and 3.2 % periventricular leukomalacia. Survival rate at discharge from hospital was 95.2 %. Of those, 10 % showed risk of serious sequelae defined as: grade III-IV intraventricular haemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, grade III retinopathy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. There were no major complications in 64.5 % of the children. Despite a prematurity rate of 100 %, this large series of triplets shows an excellent survival and a relatively low serious associated morbidity. It is also important to point out the intensive perinatological follow-up to which these pregnancies are subject (AU)