Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T13:00:40.206Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Outcome of the Surviving Cotwin of a Fetus Papyraceus or of a Dead Fetus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

K. Yoshida*
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical College
H. Soma
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical College
*
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Medical College, 6-7-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160, Japan

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Serial ultrasound examinations have demonstrated that one of two gestational sacs in a twin pregnancy may often disappear. When it disappears at an early stage of gestation, the pregnancy may advance without any disturbance and the cotwin can be delivered well developed and lively. When the intrauterine death occurs in the second trimester, the dead fetus usually results in a fetus papyraceus and the cotwin continues to be alive near term. However, when death occurs in the last trimester, the viable twin may be spontaneously delivered soon and be premature. In some cases of late fetal death, the dead fetus may induce intravascular thromboses in many organs of the surviving cotwin, so that the living infant may develop cerebral palsy later after birth.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1986

References

REFERENCES

1. Benirschke, K (1961): Accurate recording of twin placentation. A plea to the obstetrician. Obstet Gynecol 18:334348.Google Scholar
2. Enbom, JA (1985): Twin pregnancy with intrauterine death of one twin. Am J Obstet Gynecol 152:424429.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3. Finberg, HJ, Birnholz, JC (1979): Ultrasound observations in multiple gestation with first trimester bleeding. The blighted twin. Radiology 132:137142.Google Scholar
4. Fox, H (1978): The placenta in multiple pregnancy. In: Pathology of the Placenta. London: WB Saunders, pp 8183.Google ScholarPubMed
5. Krone, HA (1963): Pathologische Fruchtentwicklung bei Plazentaanomalien. Arch Gynaekol 198:224227.Google Scholar
6. Landy, HJ, Keith, L, Keith, D (1982): The vanishing twin. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 31:179194.Google ScholarPubMed
7. Mannino, FL, Jones, KL, Benirschke, K (1977): Congenital skin defects and fetus papyraceus. J Pediat 91:559564.Google Scholar
8. Robinson, HP, Caines, JS (1977): Sonar evidence of early pregnancy failure in patients with twin conceptions. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 84:2225.Google Scholar
9. Robinson, LK, Jones, KL, Benirschke, K (1983): The nature of structural defects associated with velamentous and marginal insertion of the umbilical cord. Am J Obstet Gynecol 146:191193.Google Scholar
10. Strauss, F, Benirschke, K, Driscoll, SG (1967): The transfusion syndrome. In: Placenta. New York: Springer-Verlag, pp 207213.Google Scholar
11. Strong, SJ, Corney, G (1967): Twin transfusion syndrome. In: The Placenta in Twin Pregnancy. London: Pergamon Press, pp 6875.Google Scholar
12. Yoshida, K, Soma, H (1984): A study on twin placentation in Tokyo. Acta Genet Med Gemellol 33:115120.Google Scholar
13. Yoshioka, H, Kadomoto, Y, Kusunoki, T (1979): Multicystic encephalomalacia in liveborn twin with a stillborn macerated cotwin. J Pediat 95:798800.Google Scholar