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Am J Perinatol 1991; 8(5): 333-337
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-999408
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

© 1991 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Management of Triplet Pregnancies in the 1980s-Are We Doing Better?

Amir Weissman, Nechemia Yoffe, Peter Jakobi, Joseph M. Brandes, Eitan Paldi, Shraga Blazer
  • Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, IVF Unit, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Rambam Medical Center, Technion-Faculty of Medicine, and The Rappaport Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Haifa, Israel
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Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2008 (online)

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ABSTRACT

The incidence of triplet pregnancies has increased with the introduction of ovulation induction agents and is expected to further increase with the implementation of multiple embryo transfer in the in vitro fertilization programs. We review our experience with 29 triplet pregnancies in the last 10 years. Despite early sonographic diagnosis, close follow-up, increased use of tocolytics, and prophylactic cervical suture, we could not document prolongation of pregnancy, increased infants' weight, or a significantly decreased perinatal mortality, which still remains about 14%. Furthermore, the use of cesarean section as the delivery method of choice did not change the well-documented unfavorable relationship between birth order and fetal outcome. There is an urgent need for prospective assessment of the value of different treatment modalities, which nowadays becomes possible with the increasing incidence of triplet pregnancies. The prevention of triplet pregnancies or treatment by selective fetal reduction deserves a second thought.

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