Term breech delivery--is a high Caesarean section rate justified?
The Caesarean section rate for breech presentation has fallen from 60% in 1978 to 38% in 1980 at the University teaching hospital in Hong Kong. The number of Caesarean sections carried out for the indication of "unfavourable pelvis' in 1980 was approximately half that in 1978. No significant difference in perinatal outcome was noted in the group delivered vaginally in these 2 years. It was concluded that a high Caesarean section rate in term breech presentation may not be justified in modern obstetric practice because of the associated increase in maternal morbidity. Many patients labelled as having an "unfavourable pelvis' can in fact have a safe vaginal breech delivery.
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001946:Breech Presentation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007746:Labor Presentation; D010387:Pelvimetry; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies