Vaginal delivery can be considered in monochorionic diamniotic twins.
The outcomes of 60 sets of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) twins were compared with 218 sets of dichorionic diamniotic (DCDA) twins. The caesarean section rates for MCDA were similar to those for DCDA twins (56.6 versus 53.6%, P > 0.1). Although the number of babies with 5-minute Apgar score of <7 was significantly higher for vaginally delivered MCDA twins compared with that of DCDA twins (12 versus 3.5%, P < 0.001), the umbilical artery pH of <7.2 was similar (20 versus 13%, P > 0.05). Admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and neonatal mortality were also similar in both groups. Delivery by caesarean section was associated with increased admission to the NICU and neonatal mortality for MCDA twins when compared with vaginal delivery group. From this retrospective cohort study, we can conclude that vaginal delivery for MCDA twins appeared to be a reasonable management option when similar selection criteria for vaginal delivery of DCDA twins were applied.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University Hospital Lewisham, London, UK. ashis.sau@uhl.nhs.uk
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A
Sau
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Chalmers
A H
AH
Shennan
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G
Fox
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D
Maxwell
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic