Delivery of the low birthweight and the very low birthweight breech: cesarean section or vaginal delivery?

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Abstract
We studied neonatal survival rates, APGAR scores, and length of hospital stay in 199 singleton breeches weighing 1000-2500 grams at birth. We found that in the birthweight range of 1000-1750 grams, breeches who were delivered by cesarean section had a significantly higher survival rate (74%) than those who were delivered vaginally (36%, p < 0.01). However, in the birthweight range of 1751-2500 grams, there was no significant difference in the survival rates between breeches delivered abdominally and those delivered vaginally. The 1-minute and the 5-minute APGAR scores and the length of the hospital stay were not significantly different between the abdominal and the vaginal delivery groups in either birthweight range. The data indicate that the very low birthweight breech (.ltoreq. 1750 grams) may benefit from a prophylactic cesarean section.

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