A retrospective investigation of preterm birt h in breech presentation during the period of 26 years

Breech presentation is childbirth, during which may be expected higher perinatal mortality and morbidity when compared to cephalic presentation. The breech presentation complicates 20–35 % of preterm delivery. This group of neonates is exposed to hypoxic damages, as well as birth injuries with consequent intracranial hemorrhages. The mortality rate of preterm infants is much higher than the mortality of full-term infants. A higher risk of perinatal asphyxia and birth trauma makes obstetricians decide for operative completion by Cesarean section. Research methods. We conducted a retrospective study and analyzed and compared perinatal categories: perinatal mortality and morbidity, the mode of pregnancy completion, and the incidence of Cesarean section and vaginal delivery in six periods. Patients and research methods. The studied material was collected for the period of the past 26 years from the archives in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. All singleton pregnancies with the breech presentation were analyzed, delivered either vaginally or by Cesarean section. Results. The incidence of Cesarean sections in preterm births with breech presentation gradually grows through the studied period. Obstetricians were increasingly opting for a Cesarean section in the situation of preterm birth and breech presentation, to eliminate traumatic and hypoxic damage, and thus tried to reduce perinatal mortality. The perinatal mortality rate of premature fetuses in a breech presentation who were delivered vaginally, according to numerous authors was statistically significantly higher compared to the perinatal mortality of premature neonates who were delivered by Cesarean section. Conclusion. The research emphasizes the importance of the completion of the premature birth of a child in the breech presentation by Cesarean section if the child is alive and there are no identifiable development defects