Open AccessAssisted vaginal delivery versus caesarean section in breech presentation
Author(s) -
Krupitz Hartmut,
Arzt Wolfgang,
Ebner Thomas,
Sommergruber Michael,
Steininger Erwin,
Tews Gernot
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00845.x
Subject(s) - medicine , caesarean section , breech presentation , vaginal delivery , obstetrics , apgar score , presentation (obstetrics) , pregnancy , pediatrics , breech delivery , gynecology , birth weight , genetics , biology
Background. The Term Breech Trial (TBT), a well‐known study conducted by Hannah and published in the Lancet, revealed a better outcome for neonates after primary caesarean section compared with attempted vaginal delivery. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the results of TBT have to be taken into account when counseling pregnant women in central Europe. Methods. We investigated 882 women who had delivered infants in breech presentation over a period of 11 years. The neonates had a birthweight of >2500 g and no malformations. We compared mortality and serious neonatal morbidity after attempted vaginal delivery and after primary caesarean section. Results. No infant or maternal mortality was registered in either group. Serious neonatal morbidity was higher (0.5%; n = 2) for attempted vaginal delivery than for primary caesarean section; in the latter group, no child fulfilled the criteria for serious neonatal morbidity. However, the difference was not statistically significant. As expected, after attempted vaginal delivery, the base excess, and 5‐min APGAR scores were indicative of more markedly depressed children. Conclusion. After careful exclusion of risk factors and informing the patient in detail about the risks and possible complications, vaginal delivery from breech presentation is still warrantable.