Affiliations: [a]
Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Maternity Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| [b]
Department of Obstetrics, Instituto Fernandes Figueira/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| [c]
Department of Clinical Research, Instituto Fernandes Figueira/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| [d]
Department of Neonatology, Instituto Fernandes Figueira/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| [e]
Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Maternity Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Jose Maria de A. Lopes, MD, Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Maternity Hospital, Rua das Laranjeiras 445, Laranjeiras Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil CEP 22240-002Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Tel.: +1 5521 25581434; Fax: +1 5521 25581690; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate adverse perinatal outcome in a group of high order pregnancies pared with singletons by BW and GA at birth. METHODS: Data was reviewed for all admissions of triplets and quadruplets in a 7 year period. For each study neonate we selected two singleton infants to constitute a control group. Variables analyzed included: respiratory distress syndrome, patent ductus arteriosus, intraventricular hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity and periventricular leukomalacia. RESULTS: We studied a total of 128 multiple and 260 singleton infants. Mean gestational age and birth weight were similar in both groups (31.3 ± 2,5 wks e 31.5 ± 2,8 wks; 1470 ± 461 g vs 1495 ± 540 g). There was no significant difference between the groups in the majority of main morbidities. The incidence of NEC was higher in triplets (6.3 vs 0.8%, p value <0.01). Mortality was higher in singletons (9.6 vs 3.1%, p value <0.037). CONCLUSIONS: Results show that major neonatal outcomes are very similar between multiples and singletons births when paired by gestational age and birth weight. NEC remained a significant morbidity in infants born from multiple gestations after adjustment for maternal and neonatal risk factors.
