Mortality in relation to method of delivery in breech infants.
To study the relation of method of delivery to perinatal mortality, we examined information from the deliveries of 1593 breech infants weighing 1000 g or more born in 1976 and 1977. In none of the birthweight groups 1000 g or more was neonatal mortality significantly different between infants delivered vaginally compared with those delivered by cesarean section, although the number of deaths was small. In all the birthweight groups, perinatal mortality was higher in breeches delivered vaginally, but the differences were because all of the infants who died before labor were delivered vaginally. Total mortality (intrapartum plus neonatal deaths) in infants who survived to labor was not significantly different in breech infants delivered by one or the other method at any birthweight. These data suggest that routine cesarean delivery for infants 1000 g or more who are in the breech presentation may not be justified from the standpoint of mortality.
D001724:Birth Weight; D001946:Breech Presentation; D002140:California; D002585:Cesarean Section; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy