TERM BREECH DELIVERY - EARLY AND LATE COMPLICATIONS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (2) , 165-171
Abstract
Consecutive [human] singleton breech presentations (366) were analyzed for clinical factors associated with fetal complications related to vaginal delivery, and for the impact of different cesarean section [CS] rates on the fetal complication incidence. The condition at birth of the vaginally delivered (243 cases) infants correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy weight, and fetal head size. During the study period the CS rate changed from approximately 20% of term breech presentations at the beginning to almost 50% at its end. This was accompanied by a decrease in the traumatic morbidity. At follow-up only a small minority of those registered were significantly affected. The fetal asphyxia rate was not influenced by the increased CS rate. At follow-up 1 of 33 infants born asphyxiated showed late psychomotor development.