Selective vaginal breech delivery at term - still an option.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the neonatal outcome between planned vaginal or planned cesarean section (CS) breech delivery and planned vaginal vertex delivery at term with singleton fetuses.

DESIGN

A cohort study.

SETTING

Delivery Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Finland, with 5200 annual deliveries.

POPULATION

The term breech deliveries over a period of five years (January 2004 to January 2009), a total of 751 breech deliveries, and 257 vertex controls.

METHODS

The data were collected from the mother's medical records, including a summary of the newborn. In the case of neonatal health problems, the pediatric records were also examined.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity as defined in the Term Breech Trial. Low Apgar scores or umbilical cord pH as secondary end-points.

RESULTS

There was no neonatal mortality. Severe morbidity was rare in all groups, with no differences between groups. The Apgar scores at one minute were lower in the planned vaginal delivery group compared with the other groups, but there was no difference at the age of five minutes. Significantly more infants in the vaginal delivery group had a cord pH < 7.05. There was one maternal death due to a complicated CS in the planned CS group and none in the other groups. Mothers in the planned CS group suffered significantly more often from massive bleeding and needed transfusions.

CONCLUSIONS

Vaginal delivery remains an acceptable option for breech delivery in selected cases.