Caracterización del embarazo gemelar. Hospital “Dr. Adolfo Prince Lara”, Puerto Cabello. 1997-2006

To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of twin pregnancies, an observational, retrospective and cross-sectional study was conducted. Medical records of 293 women pregnant with twins from January, 1, 1997 through December, 31, 2006 were reviewed. For the period of the study, the incidence of twin pregnancy was 0.87%, 1 twin pregnancy per 115 births. 47% of the women were 20 to 29 years of age; 16% were aged ≤ 19 and ≥ 35; this percentage was similar to that of nulliparous and primiparous (23%); 56% attended antenatal care; at the time of birth, gestational age of pregnant women was ≤ 36 weeks. The most common complications were hypertensive pathology (40%), preterm birth (23%), anemia (22%), and urinary infection (17%). C-section was performed in 175 (59.7%) of the women. Presentation of twins was cephalic-cephalic, 36.5%, and cephalic-breech, 35.5%. There were no differences in sex, weight and Apgar score between the first and second twin. 49% were dichorionic-diamniotic twin pregnancies. The most common neonatal complications were low-birth weight (54%), respiratory distress syndrome (19%), and intrauterine growth restriction (8%).There were 55 perinatal deaths with a perinatal mortality rate II of 1.09 per 1000 births. In conclusion, we found a higher incidence of prematurity and low-birth weight which could be related to the presence of medical or obstetric conditions that can cast a shadow on the fetal and neonatal outcome. The perinatal mortality rate II was less than that found in a study.from the previous decade