title: Stuck twin syndrome: outcome in thirty-seven consecutive cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to further evaluate the role of serial amniocentesis in pregnancies complicated by the "stuck twin" syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 37 consecutive cases of stuck twin syndrome was followed up from 1986 through 1992. Evaluations included gestational age at diagnosis and at delivery, mean number of amniocenteses, volume of amniotic fluid withdrawn, placentation, perinatal complications, fetal survival, and neonatal follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five pregnancies were terminated, five had no intervention, and 27 underwent serial amniocenteses. The mean number of amniocenteses was 3.4 (range 1 to 6), and mean total amniotic fluid volume withdrawn was 5.8 L (range 0.75 to 4.0). In the serial amniocentesis group mean gestational age was 23.1 weeks (range 16 to 30) at diagnosis and 31.5 weeks (range 20 to 38) at delivery. Eighty-two percent had monochorionic placentas, and 36% had marginal or velamentous cord insertions. Infant survival was 39 of 54 (74%) in the serial amniocentesis group compared with four of 10 (40%) in the nonintervention group (relative risk 0.46, 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 0.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serial amniocentesis was associated with a 54% reduction in fetal and neonatal death in cases of stuck twin syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Perinatal Medicine, Swedish Medical Center/Seattle, WA 98104.
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Reisner
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Mahony
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nyberg
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Zingheim
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Luthy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009017:Morbidity; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006831:Polyhydramnios / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014429:Twins, Dizygotic