Perinatal mortality in 700 cases of breech delivery was studied retrospectively and results were compared with those of controls. Cases were matched with those of cephalic presentation for maternal age and parity, foetal gestational age, and birthweight. The perinatal mortality was more than twice as high in the breech group. The difference remained significant after intrauterine foetal death and malformations were excluded. Neonatal death was most frequently caused by the respiratory distress syndrome and prematurity, and in the breech group also by intracranial haemorrhage. The difference in perinatal mortality was more pronounced in the low weight and low gestational age groups. At term the differences in mortality between the two groups were small. Neonatal distress assessed as low Apgar score and the need for special care was far more frequent for the breech group. Special care in premature breech deliveries and a liberal use of caesarean section in recommended. Delivery before the 36th week of gestation should be performed by caesarean section.
对700例臀位分娩的围产期死亡率进行了回顾性研究，并将结果与对照组进行了比较。病例与头位分娩的病例在产妇年龄、产次、胎儿孕周和出生体重方面进行了匹配。臀位组的围产期死亡率是头位组的两倍多。排除宫内胎儿死亡和畸形后，差异仍然显著。新生儿死亡最常见的原因是呼吸窘迫综合征和早产，在臀位组中还包括颅内出血。围产期死亡率的差异在低体重和低孕周组中更为明显。足月时，两组之间的死亡率差异较小。臀位组以低阿氏评分评估的新生儿窘迫和需要特殊护理的情况更为频繁。建议对早产臀位分娩进行特殊护理，并广泛采用剖宫产。妊娠第36周前的分娩应采用剖宫产。
