Delivery of breech presentation infants at term. An analysis of 304 breech-deliveries

304 breech presentation infants greater than or equal to 2.500 g were delivered at the University Women's Clinic, Kiel, between 1984 and 1987. Only 2 of the vaginally delivered infants died; both had severe malformations sonographically diagnosed prior to delivery. The umbilical cord arterial PH was found to be significantly (p less than 0.001) higher in infants delivered per Caesarean Section as compared to those vaginally delivered. The same ratio was found in a control group of vaginally delivered infants compared to sectioned infants in the vertex presentation. In 13.3% of cases post primary section and in 14.4% of cases post vaginal delivery from breech presentation we found an apgar of less than or equal to 7 one minute post-partum. The transfer rate to a paediatric unit of vaginally delivered infants (7.2%) appeared to be double that of the infants delivered per Caesarean Section (3.6%). However, the indication for transferral is principally independent of the mode of delivery. Taking the 3-12fold increased maternal mortality rate post section as compared to vaginal delivery into consideration, a vaginal delivery of a breech presentation infant at term appears to be justifiable under certain presuppositions: exclusion of cranio-pelvic disproportion, and normal progression of labour. The indication for secondary Caesarean Section should be generously applied in cases of a suspicious C.T.G. and a slow progression of labour.