Clinical significance of fetal heart rate patterns during labor. VIII. Breech presentations

Abstract

The fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings of 302 consecutive breech presentations were analyzed to assess their potential value in clinical practice. There were 274 singleton births, 27 first twins and 1 triplet. Ten percent of the gestations were greater than or equal to 42 weeks, and 26% were less than or equal to 36 weeks. Infants premature by weight (less than 2,500 gm) made up 32%. Only 33.3% had no decelerations, and 63.0% had variable or variable-late decelerations. The latter group had a significantly higher incidence of depressed neonates and neonatal deaths. When accelerations were present, there were significantly fewer depressed infants and neonatal deaths. Overall the perinatal mortality (PNM) was 7.9%; for premature infants it was 27%, postterm 3% and term 1%. There was a 31% incidence of cesarean section. The PNM, when analyzed according to route of delivery, was no different for the very-low-birth-weight, low-birth-weight and term infants. Weight-specific mortality accounted for the apparent difference among the very-low-birth-weight infants. The high incidence and pathophysiology of cord compression (for first- and second-stage labor) may explain the higher incidence of depression in breeches as compared to cephalics. FHR monitoring should be done throughout delivery in order for the physicians to intervene on time when fetal distress is imminent.