An evidence-based approach to determining route of delivery for twin gestations

Approximately 50% of twin pregnancies deliver preterm, and major complications associated with prematurity include respiratory distress syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage, and sepsis. These complications drive the perinatal mortality rate of twins to seven times that of singletons. Although delivery may take place due to iatrogenic or spontaneous etiologies-no matter what the indication-optimizing the route of delivery for twins is an important component of care that must be thoughtfully considered.