Cervical maturation in breech presentation: Mechanical versus prostaglandin methods

Breech presentation at term accounts for around 5% of births. Few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of different induction methods for breech presentations. We aim to compare the mode of delivery after induction by intra cervical dilatation balloon compared to prostaglandin (PGE2) in breech presentation. We also evaluated the risk factors associated with a failure of induction.

Single-center retrospective study from January 2000 to December 2020 including all women induced from 36 weeks, breech presentation, with a single pregnancy without contraindication to vaginal delivery and with an unfavorable cervix (Bishop<6). The primary endpoint was the mode of delivery. Failure of induction was defined as the need of a cesarean section.

One hundred seventy six patients were included, 96 in the balloon group and 80 in the prostaglandin group. The cesarean section rate in the balloon group was not significantly different from the prostaglandin group (34.4% vs. 26.3%, p= 0.24). Fifty percent of the patients in the balloon group required additional maturation with prostaglandins after the balloon was dropped or removed. In our overall population, the factors associated with induction failure were nulliparity (OR= 3.144; CI95%: (1.496-6.661)) and BMI > 30 kg/m² (OR= 3.15 CI95%: (1,374 - 7,224)).

Mode of delivery after mechanical methods in breech delivery induction appears similar to prostaglandins. However, it should be noted that in half of the cases, additional maturation with prostaglandin was necessary, calling into question the value of the mechanical methods. Factors associated with cesarean were maternal characteristics (nulliparity and BMI > 30 kg/m²) but not induction method.