[Cesarean section and breech presentation (author's transl)]

Out of 14,285 babies born in the 5-year period from 1970 to 1974, the AA. observed 3,39% of breech presentations, of which 46,80% assisted through the vagina and 53,20% by cesarean section. The perinatal mortality was 13,19% (with respect to the total number of breech presentations) and 1,93% in cases where cesarean section took place. If, however, we exclude cases of deaths in newborn whose weight was lower than 2,500 gms., the total mortality from breech delivery can be reduced to 1,69% of all breech presentations. From this we can deduce that the most important cause of death is connected not so much with difficulties related to presentation as with premature delivery and low birth-weight. In breech delivery by vaginal assistance, the risk of perinatal mortality proved to be not much greater in the primipara than in the pluripara. The criteria guiding the choice between vaginal assistance and cesarean section are examined in the light of various suggestions made by different Authors in recent years.