title: Delayed interval delivery in twin and triplet pregnancies: 6 years of experience in one perinatal center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to know the outcome of delayed-interval delivery for twin and triplet pregnancies at 22+0 to 25+0 weeks of gestation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort of twin and triplet deliveries at the 23rd to 26th weeks of gestation were managed with delayed interval delivery from 2005 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2005 until 2011, delayed delivery in five twin pregnancies and two triplet pregnancies were performed. The interval between delivery of the first fetus and the remaining twin/triplets was 1-18 days (mean, 9.7 days). In all cases, the first fetus was born vaginally. Survival of the first twin/triplet was 14.3%, whereas 57.1% of the second born twin/triplets survived. Birth weight gained due to delayed delivery was 131 g on average. No severe maternal complications were observed. When compared with a gestation age-matched group, where the delay was not possible, the delayed twin/triplet had a higher survival rate (57.1% vs. 0%, P=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In multiple pregnancies with preterm delivery between completed 22 and completed 25 weeks of gestational age, delayed delivery seems to be a useful therapeutic option to achieve a better outcome of the remaining fetus or fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. joscha.reinhard@kgu.de
authors.forename: Joscha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reichenbach
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reitter
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Antwerpen
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlösser
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Louwen
mesh_terms: D023802:Cerclage, Cervical; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014310:Triplets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014427:Twins / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*