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. 2022 Dec;42(12):1607-1614.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01462-x. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Delayed-interval delivery in multiple gestation pregnancies: neonatal mortality, morbidity, and development

Nicolas J Bouey  1 , Shampa Saha  2 , Deanne E Wilson-Costello  3   4 , Matthew A Rysavy  5 , Michele Walsh  3   4 , Myra H Wyckoff  6 , Anna Maria Hibbs  3   4
Affiliations

Delayed-interval delivery in multiple gestation pregnancies: neonatal mortality, morbidity, and development

Nicolas J Bouey et al. J Perinatol. 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: Delayed-interval delivery (DID) is the delivery of the first fetus in a multiple gestation pregnancy without prompt delivery of the remaining fetus(es). We aimed to assess infant outcomes of DID.

Study design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of infants born 22-28 weeks' gestation or weighing 401-1500 g. DID was defined as a passage of >24 h between the birth of firstborn and retained infants. Rates of mortality, morbidity, and developmental outcomes were compared within DID multiples, to other multiples not born by DID, and all infants in the Generic Database and follow-up datasets (excluding DID-born).

Results: DID-born multiples were younger and smaller than other multiples. Retained infants had no significantly different rates of mortality and morbidities compared to their firstborn counterparts, apart from less bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Conclusions: DID showed no evidence of harm and a potential benefit of decreased bronchopulmonary dysplasia mediated by increased gestational age and birthweight.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:. Participant flowchart
a Neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) at 2 years’ corrected age was defined as having at least one of the following: Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition (BSID-III) cognitive composite score <85 (26), Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) level ≥2 (27), moderate to severe cerebral palsy, bilateral blindness, or deafness that interfered with the ability to understand or communicate regardless of amplification. b Infants missing data on one or more components of NDI. c Follow up window still open at time of analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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