OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate fetal outcome and maternal complications of multifetal pregnancy reduction to a single fetus or twins. To evaluate safety and efficacy of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling for karyotyping before fetal reduction. STUDY DESIGN: Four hundred twenty-four consecutive multiple pregnancies were reduced to ...

The objective of this study was to determine the rate, origin, maternal and perinatal outcomes, and the associated hospital costs of higher order multiple births in one Canadian province. All higher order multiple pregnancies (triplets and above) in Nova Scotia over a 22-year period (1980 to 2001) were reviewed, and ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of fetoscopic surgery in complicated monochorionic and dichorionic triplet pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: This was a case series of fetoscopic surgery in 12 cases of monochorionic (n = 5) or dichorionic (n = 7) triamniotic triplets complicated by severe feto-fetal ...

The singleton, term gestation, live birth rate per cycle initiated (BESST) endpoint proposed at the beginning of 2004 is a first big step which should be added to by the consideration of multiple pregnancy rates in relation to singleton rates, by recording of fetal reductions and of pregnancies resulting from ...

OBJECTIVE: In triplet pregnancies, to compare pregnancy outcome of expectant management with that after embryo reduction to twins. METHODS: Retrospective study of 255 trichorionic triplet pregnancies, of which 185 had embryo reduction to twins (reduced group) and 70 were managed expectantly (non-reduced group). RESULTS: Median birth weight was higher by ...

The frequency of triplet gestation is low in humans, estimated at 1:6400 deliveries. Monochorionic gestations represent a subpopulation of approximately 10% of these triplet pregnancies. Hypertensive complications are known to occur with greater frequency in the context of multiple gestation. In this report we describe microscopic placental changes associated with ...

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the relationship between maternal race and stillbirth among singletons, twins, and triplets. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 14,348,318 singletons, 387,419 twins, and 20,953 triplets delivered in the United States from 1995 through 1998. We compared the risk of stillbirth between pregnancies of black and ...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine the early spontaneous loss rate in multiple pregnancies following assisted reproductive technology (ART). STUDY DESIGN: Analysis of pregnancies following ART as related to the initial number of embryos and maternal age was performed. RESULTS: At least one spontaneous loss was observed ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to formulate growth references that reflect triplet fetal and neonatal populations at each gestational age by combining serial ultrasonographic estimates of fetal weights and measured birth weights. STUDY DESIGN: This historical cohort study was based on 188 pregnancies of live-born triplets of > ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the accuracy of first- and second-trimester ultrasound assessment of fetal age. STUDY DESIGN: Differences between ultrasound estimated gestational age and true gestational age were calculated between 11 to 14 weeks of gestation and 18 to 22 weeks of gestation ...

Dramatic successes in infertility care have allowed millions of previously fertile women to have their own children. However, an epidemic of multiple pregnancies has resulted, with catastrophic increases in morbidity and mortality, and in the economic costs to society. Multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) has been used to decrease fetal number ...

In this study, I used a life-table approach to estimate how much hypothetical reductions in pregnancy-related dropouts would help close the gender gap in educational attainment. Using the schooling histories of 6,686 pupils, I partitioned Cameroon's gender gap in education into "pregnancy-related" and "non-pregnancy-related" components and simulated the impact of ...

OBJECTIVE: In the past, our group took the position that we would not provide multifetal pregnancy reduction to a singleton regardless of starting number except for serious maternal medical indications or as a selective termination for diagnosed fetal anomalies. With evidence of increased safety and more women (many aged 40 ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of maternal morbidity and obstetric complications in women with triplet pregnancies and quadruplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: We compared the outcomes in women with triplet pregnancies (n=5491) and quadruplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies (n=423) with women with ...

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of multifetal pregnancy reduction (MFPR) as a means to reduce the adverse outcome of multiple gestations. METHODS: This was a retrospective study evaluating the outcome of 334 multiple pregnancies after embryo reduction. RESULTS: In 313 multiple pregnancies in which MFPR was performed before 15 weeks, ...

Iatrogenic fetal reduction is undertaken to try and improve the outcome of multiple pregnancies by reducing the rate of severe preterm delivery. In twin pregnancies, however, spontaneous death of one of the fetuses is associated with increased risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in the survivor. The aim of this study ...

BACKGROUND: To provide current data on maternal and neonatal outcomes in triplet pregnancies in an Australian population. METHODS: Retrospective case note review of all triplet pregnancies managed within a single Australian tertiary centre. RESULTS: Fifty-four sets of triplets were managed from January 1996 to October 2002. A total of 59% ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate neonatal and maternal data in a large series of triplet pregnancies as a function of the decision regarding the route of delivery. METHODS: A retrospective series of 93 triplet pregnancies managed and delivered between 1989 and 2001 in a single perinatal ...

MATERIALS AND 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%), ...

This systematic review was performed to assess the effects of multifetal pregnancy reduction for women with triplet and higher-order multiple pregnancies on fetal loss, preterm birth, and perinatal and infant mortality and morbidity. From nonrandomized studies, multifetal pregnancy reduction seems to be an effective treatment option, with outcomes comparable to ...

In this phenomenological study women's experiences regarding their decisions to undergo or forgo multifetal reduction of their higher-order multiple pregnancies were explored. Seven women who had conceived higher-order multiple pregnancies as the result of in vitro fertilization were interviewed. Four participants accepted reduction, whereas three participants declined. Three themes were ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the likelihood of adverse outcomes in triplet pregnancies by a score comprising pregravid maternal characteristics. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Triplets database collected by Matria Healthcare, Inc. PATIENT(S): A scoring system was constructed, assigning 1 point for the presence of a risk factor (nulliparity, stature <165 cm, ...

OBJECTIVE: Multiple pregnancy now warrants special attention from the obstetrician. The incidence of multiple pregnancy had increased during the last 15 years. Multiple pregnancy is a high-risk pregnancy since it is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality. In addition, almost every maternal and obstetrical problem occurs more frequently in ...

Intestinal obstruction complicating pregnancy is one of the surgical emergencies that may be associated with high incidence of morbidity and mortality for both mother and fetus. Our case is a case of triplets' pregnancy at 25 weeks gestation complicated by jejunal intussusception. The patient was admitted to our hospital with ...

Whilst there is a need to emphasize the birth rates of healthy infants when reporting success rates following infertility treatment, is 'the singleton term gestation per cycle started' the most appropriate measure? Although there are many ways to measure the efficacy of medical intervention, none of these exclude from the ...

We evaluated longitudinal changing patterns of 75 g glucose tolerance test (GTT) in triplet pregnancies. Eight triplet pregnancies were prospectively studied. All triplet pregnancies were fertilized with artificial reproductive techniques; patients showed no glucosuria or fasting hyperglycemia > 100 mg/dL before pregnancy. The 75-g GTT was performed at first, second, ...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of spontaneous gestational sac loss during the first trimester in women achieving multiple pregnancies by ICSI. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of 1448 consecutive multiple pregnancies conceived by ICSI. RESULTS: Of the cohort of 1448 pregnancies, twin gestations ...

Ectopic pregnancy situated in a Caesarean section scar is a rare but potentially life-threatening event. Because of its rarity, there are no universal treatment guidelines to manage this condition. We report a case of IVF-induced triplet heterotopic pregnancy of early gestational age that included one Caesarean scar pregnancy diagnosed as ...

OBJECTIVE: To improve perinatal survival rates by prolonging the rest of the pregnancy after an abortion or extremely premature birth of one fetus in multiple pregnancies, especially in women with low fertility potential. METHODS: Following the expulsion of one fetus a cervical cerclage was applied to all patients. The placenta ...

Triplet pregnancies have increased as a result of infertility therapy. The objectives of this study are to review the outcome of triplet pregnancies and to determine the effect of different antenatal corticosteroid treatments on fetal growth, survival, and neurodevelopmental outcome. A retrospective case note review of infant and maternal records ...

Monochorionic triplet pregnancies are very rare. Here we report 2 cases of multiple pregnancies with monochorionic triplets following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and day 3 embryo transfer. The 2 women concomitantly underwent controlled ovarian hyperstimulation due to male factor infertility. Following oocyte retrieval, ICSI and assisted hatching (AH) were performed, ...

BACKGROUND: Although retroversion of the uterus is a common finding, incarceration of the gravid uterus is a rare complication. It occurs usually between the 12th and 16th weeks of gestation and can lead to severe complications. No case of incarceration has been reported before in a multifetal gestation resulting from ...

Triplet-to-triplet transfusion is a rare clinical complication of monochorionic pregnancies. We present such a case in a monochorionic triamniotic triplet gestation. After a single fetal demise an ongoing twin-to-twin transfusion continued in the surviving triplets. The donor triplet had ultrasound evidence of secondary structural brain damage. The pregnancy was successfully ...

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the level of potentially preventable excess mortality achievable by avoiding the creation of higher-order multiple gestation with assisted reproductive technologies. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of multiple pregnancies delivered in the United States between 1995 and 1997 involving 304,466 twins, 16,068 triplets, 1448 quadruplets, and ...

Use of ovulation inducing agents has increased the incidence of high order multifetal gestation. Such pregnancies are associated with increased maternal morbidity and poor perinatal outcome especially due to prematurity. Here, we report a case of sextuplet pregnancy following ovulation induction with gonadotrophins. This is the first reported case of ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prospective risk of fetal death in singleton, twin, and triplet pregnancies and to compare this risk with fetal and neonatal death rates. METHODS: We analyzed 11,061,599 singleton, 297,622 twin, and 15,375 triplet gestations drawn from the 1995-1998 National Center for Health Statistics linked birth and death ...

MPR and ST are important options for patients who have multifetal pregnancies. Both procedures have been shown to be technically safe and result in acceptable pregnancy loss rates and GAs at delivery. An important caveat is that these findings are observed in centers that have vast experience performing this type ...

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to establish the frequency of fetal cells in the maternal blood of multifetal pregnancies and compare this figure with singleton pregnancies. METHODS: We obtained maternal blood from 31 pregnancies with 2-6 fetuses at 11-16 weeks gestation and from 50 normal singleton controls (11-14 ...

OBJECTIVE: Multiple gestations are known to be at increased risk for pulmonary edema. Our objective was to characterize this morbidity in a cohort of triplet pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Charts from triplet pregnancies managed by the Georgetown University Hospital Maternal-Fetal Medicine service were abstracted for demographic information and complications. Cases who ...

This study aims to compare morbidity indicators between twins and triplets. This was a retrospective, observational study, and involved a review of twins and triplets born in Basildon Hospital between 1991 and 2000. The main outcome measures were mean birth weight, gestational age at delivery, mode of delivery and length ...

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and cause of thrombocytopenia in triplet gestations. STUDY DESIGN: All triplet gestations that received prenatal care and were delivered at our hospital between 1993 and 2001 were identified. Serial platelet values were reviewed from the earliest gestational age available ...

OBJECTIVES: To document the duration of fetal cardiac time intervals in uncomplicated singleton pregnancies using a novel non-invasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG) system and to demonstrate this technique's ability to acquire recordings in twin and triplet pregnancies. DESIGN: Prospective cross sectional observational study. SETTING: Antenatal wards and clinics, day assessment unit ...

Four discrete mechanisms for the pathogenesis of PTD have been described but they share a final common pathway. Moreover, although the mechanisms have distinct clinical characteristics, they are not mutually exclusive. As an example, triplet gestations are more likely to be associated with periconceptional intrauterine manipulations predisposing to infection, as ...

We report the case of a 30-year-old primipara who developed a triplet pregnancy after having received artificial insemination. At the end of the eighth month of pregnancy she had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure and at the same time blood chemistry was indicative of HELLP syndrome. Brain MRI and EEG were ...

To determine the rates of pregnancy complications following in vitro fertilization in comparison with those in a matched control group. A total of 13,543 deliveries at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Szeged, between January 1, 1995 and February 28, 2002 were subjected to retrospective analysis The 230 ...

BACKGROUND: Omphalocele-exstrophy-imperforate anus-spinal defects (OEIS) complex is a rare sporadic condition. CASE: We identified an infant with major malformations resembling OEIS. He was the product of a 30-week triplet pregnancy conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF) and evaluated by chorionic villi sampling (CVS). In this article, we review the possible ...

INTRODUCTION: Our experience with complications related to in vitro fertilization (IVF), particularly ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and higher-order multiple gestations, in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serodiscordant couples undergoing IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is presented. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 132 consecutive IVF-ICSI cycles and the ensuing 43 pregnancies in ...

BACKGROUND: Triplet fetofetal transfusion is an extremely rare complication with high perinatal mortality. Its rarity does not allow any prospective randomized study on various interventional methods to be conducted. CASE: We report one case of triplet fetofetal transfusion syndrome with survival of all three fetuses. Two were donor fetuses, and ...

OBJECTIVE: Pregnant infertility patients are commonly old enough to be offered prenatal diagnosis. However, they may be reluctant to undergo an additional invasive procedure. We, therefore, sought to determine what demographic factors, including race and ethnic group, influenced patients' decisions to undergo genetic testing in addition to multifetal pregnancy reduction ...

OBJECTIVE: To identify salient variables that influence decision making regarding multifetal reduction (MFR) and describe their effect on individuals over time. DESIGN: Prospective, exploratory, descriptive design, using qualitative and quantitative methods. SETTING: Midwestern tertiary care center. PARTICIPANTS: A convenience sample of 11 consecutive consenting couples with triplet or higher-order pregnancies ...