title: Antepartum management and neonatal outcome of triplet pregnancies.
abstract: METHODS
  The maternal and neonatal outcome of 27 triplet and 1 quadruplet gestations was studied at the University Hospital of Verona.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean maternal age was 31.7+/-3.7 years; 24 women (85.7%) were nulliparous. Six (21.4%) patients had conceived spontaneously. Common maternal complications were: preterm labor (78.6%), anemia (57.1%), preeclampsia (25.0%). Thirteen patients (46.4%) had cervical cerclage, 21(75%) received tocolysis, 20 (71.4%) corticosteroid prophylaxis, 4 (14.3%) unfractionated heparin. All patients underwent Caesarean section with mean gestational age of 32+/-2.5 weeks and mean postoperative stay was 9 days. Three patients were treated in ICU after delivery, 1 was hysterectomized and 6 received blood transfusions. The live newborns were 80, the stillborns 5. Mean birth weight was 1,520+/-516 g (range 650-2,665), 95.0% being LBW. The following neonatal complications were observed: RDS (28.7%), cerebral hemorrhage (26.2% of II degrees and 1.2% of III degrees ), anemia (20%), PDA (12.5%), ROP (6.5%), polyglobulia (3.75%), NEC (2.5%). Mean hospitalization time was 30.6 days (range 2-132).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iatrogenic multiple births are increasing as the use of assisted conception techniques expands. Gynecologists should be aware of maternal complications and neonatal outcome of triplet pregnancies and infertility management strategies should try to avoid iatrogenic multiple gestations.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrical Unit, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Biology and Genetics, University of Verona, Policlinico BorgoRoma, 37134 Verona, Italy. giovanni.zanconato@univr.it
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanconato
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Poggi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruffo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gazzoni
authors.forename: Ezio Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Padovani
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franchi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D023802:Cerclage, Cervical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015145:Tocolysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014310:Triplets
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin