Planned vaginal delivery versus Caesarean section for breech presentation in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
The optimum mode of breech delivery remains a matter of controversy among obstetricians worldwide.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether term breech babies born by planned vaginal delivery are at higher risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity than those born by planned caesarean delivery.


METHODS
A hospital based non-experimental comparison of outcome of breech delivery.


METHODS
Ife State Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife.


METHODS
Two hundred and fourty four singleton breech deliveries occurring at term.


METHODS
They include low 5-minute Apgar score, birth trauma, maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.


RESULTS
The perinatal mortality was not significantly different in both groups: OR 2.7 (95% C.I. 0.3-26.8). The low 5-minute Apgar scores were higher in the planned vaginal delivery OR 9.0 (95% C.I. 1-73.4), but the traumatic morbidity was not (OR 1.8, 95% C.I. 0.2-20.1). Maternal morbidity occurred more in the planned Caesarean delivery group OR 0.4 (95% C.I. 0.2-0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
Given appropriate selection criteria and management protocol, the outcome from elective caesarean section might not be better than from planned vaginal delivery.
Orji
E O
EO
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Perinatology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ife-Ife, Nigeria.
Ajenifuja
K O
KO
D001034:Apgar Score; D001946:Breech Presentation; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009549:Nigeria; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy