Perinatal Outcome Following Singleton Vaginal Breech Delivery in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar: A 10-Year Review

Abstract

All the patients who had vaginal breech delivery at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar over a 10 year period were reviewed. The aim was to determine the incidence of breech delivery and evaluate the perinatal outcome following vaginal breech delivery. Relavant information was obtained from the case notes of patients who had vaginal breech delivery. The incidence of singleton breech delivery during the study period was 1.41% and 69.34% of these had vaginal breech delivery. The perinatal mortality rate was 158/1000 births. Majority of vaginal breech deliveries occurred in multiparous women (56.8%) and at term (61.1%). The perinatal outcome was worse in babies who weighed above 3.5kg (50.0%), in those born to multiparous women (57.4%) and in those delivered by senior registrars (50.0%). There is need for the involvement of consultant obstetricians in the antenatal evaluation of all patients with breech presentation. Monitoring during labour and conduct of delivery must be by an obstetrician experienced in the art of vaginal breech delivery. Vaginal breech delivery should become part of every labour ward fire drill and appropriate training sessions should be organized for all obstetric residents.

Key Words: Perinatal outcome, vaginal breech delivery, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital

Mary Slessor Journal of Medicine Vol.4(1) 2004: 81-85