Outcome of Breech Deliveries at a Tertiary Health Institution in Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstract

The aetiology of breech presentation is not clear, however, several factors had been found to be associated with increased risk of breech presentation. The mode of delivery of breech presentation for optimum neonatal outcome had been a subject of controversy over the years. The present study is a retrospective analysis of the outcome of singleton breech delivery at a tertiary health institution. The incidence of singleton breech delivery during the study period was 2.9%. The maternal age ranged between 16 and 44years with a mean age of 30.05±5.53; primiparous were 32(37.2%), while multiparous were 54(62.8%). External cephalic version was attempted, but failed in one case; assisted vaginal breech delivery was conducted in 19(22.0%) cases, 47(54.7%) were delivered by emergency Caesarean section, and 20(23.3%) had elective Caesarean section. Asphyxia was present in 14(77.8%), 31(66.0%) and 8(40.0%), of babies , delivered by assisted vaginal breech delivery, emergency Caesarean section, and elective Caesarean section, respectively (df = 2, p= 0.042). This study showed that elective Caesarean delivery gives the best neonatal outcome for breech presenting fetuses. Booking status positively impart fetal outcome, therefore provision and utilization of good quality antenatal care will go a long way to reduce the incidence of unbooked emergencies that significantly contribute to the poor neonatal outcome in breech deliveries. Key words: breech presentation, mode of delivery, neonatal outcome