[Foetal reduction--a retrospective survey].

BACKGROUND

Foetal reduction is a procedure by which one or more foetuses in a multi-foetal pregnancy are terminated selectively by an intracardial injection of potassium chloride. There is no Danish study regarding the outcomes after this procedure. The purpose of this study was to calculate results of the foetal reductions performed at Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby.

METHODS

The study comprised retrospective calculation of 70 foetal reductions performed from 5 June 2000 to 15 June 2007.

RESULTS

In all, 44 multiple pregnancies were reduced to two foetuses, which resulted in two total foetal losses (5%), one stillborn and 82 live born, among which two died perinatally. The median gestational age was 255 days (36 weeks and three days), five children were born before week 32 (6%), the mean birth weight among live born was 2,390 +/- 578 grams (mean +/- standard deviation) and 20 were growth restricted (24%). Among 16 pregnancies reduced from two fetuses to one, and ten reduced from three to one, neither miscarriages nor stillbirths were observed. One gave birth before week 32 and the mean birth weight was 3,041 +/- 462 grams. There were no cases of growth restriction.

CONCLUSIONS

The results from Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, correspond well with the international standard. By reducing to a singleton instead of twins, better results are achieved regarding gestational length, birth weight and growth restriction.