Evaluation of a feto-pelvic scoring system in the management of breech presentations.

A feto-pelvic scoring system comprising maternal pelvimetric data, estimated fetal weight, type of breech presentation and previous obstetric history was used in selecting patients for cesarean section of vaginal delivery. A maximum score of 20 points was possible. Twelve points or less indicated cesarean section. During 1973-1975 224 singleton breech deliveries were evaluated. In 29.5% cesarean section was performed and in 83% of these it could be planned in advance. In 70.5% of cases, patients were allowed to deliver vaginally under continuous electronic monitoring of the fetal heart rate. There was one intrapartum death and only one early neonatal death of a small premature child. In two cases intrauterine death had occurred already in the antepartum period. The uncorrected perinatal mortality was 17.9 per 1000 but not significantly different from the uncorrected perinatal mortality of 8.0 per 1000 for all patients delivered at the Danderyd's Hospital during the period 1972-1975 (12832 births). The corrected mortality resulting from breech presentation was 8.9 per 1000. The infants exhibited similar and excellent 5 min Apgar scores whether delivered vaginally or by cesarean section or matched with a randomized control series of 1000 cephalic presentations.