BREECH BIRTHS - OBSTETRIC AND PREPARTAL SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 189  (3) , 130-135
Abstract
The clinical and sonographic findings in 662 cases with birth from breech presentation were compared with the obstetric and sonographic data of a control group (births from vertex presentation). There were significantly more primiparae aged over 30 (16%) in the breech birth group investigated than in the control group (P < 0.001). Vaginal bleeding and/or premature labor were found more frequently in gravidae with breech presentation than in those with vertex presentation (P < 0.001). Premature births occurred significantly more frequently (22%) in the former group than in the latter (9%; P < 0.001). The proportion of newborns weighing < 2500 g was higher in the breech presentation group (20%) than in the vertex presentation group (only 5%; P < 0.001). Newborns with growth retardation, with a wt percentile < 5 were significantly more common in breech (6%) than in vertex presentation (2.8%; P < 0.001). Uterine anomalies (in 5.5%) were more common in breech presentation cases than in the control group (0.0%; P < 0.001). Oligohydramnios was diagnosed by sonography in 20% of the cases with breech presentation, but only in 6% of births from a vertex presentation (P < 0.001). A pathologic placental location (placenta previa) was found more frequently (3.5%) in cases with breech presentation than in the control group (1.1%; P < 0.01). Pathologic fetal movement was sonographically observed in 7% of the cases with breech presentation, though only in 1.6% of cases with vertex presentation (P < 0.01). Congenital malformations in the breech presentation group, at 7%, were about 3 times more common than among the controls (2%; P < 0.001). When a breech presentation was diagnosed, sonographic examination should be performed to assess the above-mentioned risk factors. Only then can a final decision be taken concerning correct obstetic management.

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