Preterm singleton breech in North Jordan: vaginal versus abdominal delivery

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Perinatal Medicine
• Neonatal Care

Background:

• The safety of vaginal birth for singleton preterm breech presentation is not well-established.
• Preterm breech deliveries present unique challenges in perinatal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the perinatal outcomes of singleton preterm breech deliveries via vaginal versus abdominal (cesarean) routes.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaginal breech delivery in preterm gestations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective comparison of two groups of preterm breech deliveries (26-36 weeks gestation).
• Group 1: 66 vaginal births; Group 2: 32 cesarean births.
• Analysis included maternal characteristics, Apgar scores, intrapartum deaths, and early neonatal mortality.

Main Results:

• Maternal characteristics were similar between vaginal and cesarean delivery groups.
• No significant differences were observed in early neonatal outcomes, including Apgar scores.
• Intrapartum and early neonatal mortality rates were comparable: 16.6% for vaginal births and 15.6% for cesarean births.

Conclusions:

• Cesarean section does not offer a significant advantage over vaginal delivery for preterm breech fetuses, even with optimal neonatal care.
• This study does not support the routine use of cesarean section for all preterm breech deliveries.
• Vaginal birth is a viable option for carefully selected singleton preterm breech presentations.