Low birthweight breech infant: short-term and long-term outcome by method of delivery.

Abstract

The effect of the delivery method on the short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality of the very low birthweight breech-presenting infants was evaluated. Although some previous studies question the benefit of cesarean section for the premature breech infants, the mortality rate and the incidence of birth injuries were significantly lower in the abdominally delivered group than in those delivered vaginally. The long-term follow-up clearly demonstrates that the vaginally delivered infants had a substantially higher incidence of cerebral palsy, visual damage, deafness, and severe developmental delay. It is concluded that cesarean section may be the preferred delivery method for the breech-presenting infants weighing 1000 to 1999 gm, offering a better quality of life.

• Authors: A Weissman, S Blazer, E Z Zimmer, P Jakobi, E Paldi
• Journal: American journal of perinatology (Am J Perinatol) Vol. 5 Issue 3 Pg. 289-92 (Jul 1988) ISSN: 0735-1631 [Print] United States
• PMID: 3382488 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Birth Injuries (epidemiology)
• Breech Presentation
• Cerebral Hemorrhage (epidemiology)
• Delivery, Obstetric (adverse effects, methods, mortality)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant Mortality
• Infant, Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Pregnancy
• Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn (epidemiology)
• Time Factors