Multifetal pregnancy reduction: a consecutive series of 61 cases

Objective The effect of selective fetocide on the course of 61 multiple pregnancies. Design An observational study. Setting A tertiary centre. Subjects 61 women whose pregnancies included 37 triplets, 18 quadruplets, 5 quintuplets and 1 heptuplet; 97% followed IVF or the induction of ovulation. The aim of the procedure in most cases was to obtain twins. Interventions Selective reduction was performed before 13 weeks gestation under general anaesthesia, using either a transcervical (n= 26) or transabdominal approach (n= 35). Fifty-four twins, 4 singletons and 3 triplets were obtained after the procedure. Main outcome measure Preterm labour rate. Results The rate of unplanned fetal loss was 13% and was related to the number of suppressed embryos (P