Outcome of term singleton breech deliveries at a University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the incidence, review the management as well as the maternal and perinatal outcome of singleton breech presentation at term at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Method: A review of the 108 singleton term breech deliveries that took place at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital over 30 months from 1st January 2005 to 30th June 2007.

Results: The incidence of singleton term breech delivery was 3.4% and eighty seven per cent of the delivery was by caesarean section. Babies delivered by caesarean section were more likely to have first and fifth minute Apgar Scores greater than 7 compared to those delivered vaginally (p < 0.001). The perinatal mortality rate was more than four times higher in singleton term breech deliveries when compared to singleton term cephalic deliveries. The mean estimated blood loss following caesarean delivery was 775.5 + 441.6 ml while that following assisted breech delivery was 253.6 + 217.9 ml and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean hospital stay of mothers following caesarean birth was 6.6 + 1.8 days while it was 3.1 + 1.5 days for those that had assisted breech delivery. This was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). However all the six women with puerperal complications occurred in women that had caesarean section.

Conclusion: Babies delivered by caesarean section had better perinatal outcome compared with assisted vaginal breech delivery. Maternal morbidity occurring in the caesarean section group was not fatal.