Introduction
In breech presentation, the lie is longitudinal and the podalic pole presents at the pelvic brim. It is the commonest malpresentation.
Breech is the common non vertex presentation. The incidence is about 20% at 28th week and drops to 5% at 34th week and to 3–4% at term. Thus in 3 out of 4, spontaneous correction into vertex presentation occurs by 34th week.1
Term Breech Trial Collaborative Group by Hannah in 2000 has influenced current obstetrical thinking regarding vaginal delivery of the breech fetus.2
American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2001)3 resulted in an abrupt decline in the rate of attempted vaginal breech deliveries. Consequently, in 2001, The ACOG recommended caesarean delivery for term singleton breech.4
American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (2012)3 currently recommends that “the decision regarding the mode of delivery should depend on the experience of the health care provider”.
Breech presentation results from uterine anomalies, cornuofundal insertion of placenta, placenta previa, oligohydramnios, fetal growth restriction, prematurity, short umbilical cord, fetal anomalies like hydrocephalus.
Perinatal mortality in breech still remains 9–25% compared with 1–2% for non-breech deliveries. Perinatal death (excluding congenital abnormalities) is 3 to 5 times higher than the non-breech presentations.
Hence the present study is undertaken to know maternal and perinatal outcome.
Materials and Methods
A Prospective Observational study was conducted after Ethical Clearance from Institutional Ethical Committee in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Gulbarga Institute of Medical Sciences Kalaburagi. Total of 100 cases were studied during 6 months period from July 2018 –to December 2018.
All Women with Breech presenting to Labour room or Out Patient Department were included in this study after written and informed consent. Detailed history like age group, parity, socioeconomic status, breech when diagnosed was taken, emphasis was given on any complicating factors like PIH, oligohydramnios, previous caesarean section, PROM, eclampsia, placenta previa.
Per abdomen examination was done, Per vaginal examination to know if patient was in labour was done, Routine investigations like Complete blood count, Blood grouping, HIV, HBSAG was sent, Ultrasound was done to know type of breech and if associated Fetal anomaly, Uterine anomaly. Non stress test/CTG was done on admission.
Vaginal delivery was done if Patient gave consent, patient presenting in active labour with frank or complete breech, without any complicating factors, with average size baby, without fetopelvic disproportion, without any uterine anomaly, with CTG/NST reactive.
Results
Table 1
| Age Group(in years) | Percentage |
| <20 | 1 |
| 20-24 | 61 |
| 25-29 | 31 |
| 30-35 | 7 |
Distribution of cases as per age
Number of Referred Cases
As GIMS is tertiary centre so 37% cases were referred ones. Most of the cases were referred from Shahpur 10%, followed by Aland and Sedam 4% each.
Table 2
Distribution of cases depending on complicating factors
[i] Most of the cases 63% had complicating factors. Most common was PIH in 16%, followed by anemia 12%, oligohydramnios 11%, PROM in 10%, previous LSCS in 11%, post term 6%, polyhydramnios in 4%, IUGR, obesity, thyroid disorder in 2% each, placenta previa in 1% e. Few cases had more than one complicating factors.
Table 3
| Mode of Delivery | Percentage |
| Caesarean section | 92% |
| Vaginal delivery | 8% |
Distribution of cases depending on mode of delivery
Table 4
Distribution of cases depending on Indication for caesarean section
Caesarean section was done in 92% of cases. Most common indication was breech in latent labour 16%, severe PIH in 16%, prev LSCS and oligohydramnios in 11% each, PROM in 10%, patient request in 9%, Footling presentation in 6%, precious pregnancy 3%, contracted pelvis, fetal distress, IUGR in 2% each, placenta previa, obstructed labour, obesity with hypothyroid and BOH in 1% each.
Intraoperative findings
Incidence of frank breech was 51%, complete breech 37% among the operated cases.
Intraoperatively Difficulty in breech extraction was seen in 3%, angle extension in 3%, dense adhesions and uterus couldn’t be exteriorised in 6%, atonic PPH in 2%, angle haematoma in 1%.
Table 5
| Uterine Anomaly | Percentage |
| Arcuate | 3 |
| Bicornuate | 4 |
| Partial Septate | 1 |
| Unicornuate | 1 |
Uterine anomaly
Uterine anomaly was seen in 9%, most common was Bicornuate uterus 4%, Arcuate in 3%, Partial Septate and Unicornuate uterus in 1% each.
Postoperative period
Postoperative period was uneventful in majority of cases, average duration of stay in hospital was 7 days, except one case which had wound infection was discharged on POD-10.
Postoperative blood transfusion was done in 15% cases.
NICU admission was seen in 16%. Most common cause was fetal distress, tachypnoea.
Perinatal mortality was 4%, of which 2 were delivered vaginally (both cases there was delay in delivery of after coming head — severe birth asphyxia) and 2 underwent caesarean section (1 had fetal anomaly and other case was obstructed labour- referred case). Perinatal mortality in vaginal delivery was 25% as compared to caesarean section it was 2.1%.
Fetal anomaly was seen in 1% (fetal hydrocephalus).
Discussion
Incidence
Incidence of breech in our study was 1.3% as compared to Gilbert et al5 3%, Moodley et al6 2.4%, Karning RK et al7 2.9% and Kothapally et al8 1.4%.
Parity
In our study incidence of primigravida was 63% and 37% were multigravida which is comparable to Kothapally et al8 62% and 38% respectively. Sonali et al9 53% were primigravida.
Age group
61% of cases belonged to age group of 20-24 years followed by 31% of age group 25-30 years which is comparable with Kothapally et al8 74% and 20% respectively.
Mode of delivery
Most of the cases underwent caesarean section in our study incidence being 92% which is comparable to Sanjivini et al10 74% and Kothapally et al8 96%.
Indications of caesarean section
As most of the cases had Complicating factors, most underwent emergency Caesarean section. Of them common indication for Caesarean section was PIH 16%, Previous LSCS 11%, oligohydramnios 11% which is comparable to Kothapally et al8 PIH 14% and oligohydramnios 13% and in Sonali et al9 where PIH, post LSCS, BOH and FGR were most common indications.
Vaginal delivery
Assisted vaginal delivery in our study incidence was 8% which is comparable to Kothapally et al8 4%, and Moodley et al6 9.1%
Type of breech
Incidence of complete breech, frank and footling in present study was 37%, 51%, 11% respectively, similar to Karning RK et al7 36 .07%, 54.5%, 9.1% respectively.
Perinatal mortality
Incidence of perinatal mortality in present study was 4%, comparable to Karning RK et al7 2.46% and term Breech trial 0.3%.
Conclusion
Based on present study, it can be concluded that the maternal short-term morbidity was less in vaginal delivery and little more in patients undergoing caesarean section. Perinatal mortality was higher in babies delivered vaginally. Hence in selected cases of breech presentation, vaginal breech delivery should be attempted with patient’s consent, availability of a skilled obstetrician with intrapartum monitoring and in a double setup for emergency caesarean section.12,13
