National audit on the practice and training in breech deliveries in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE

To assess training in breech delivery in the United Kingdom at the level of registrar.

METHOD: Three hundred and nineteen registrars in obstetrics and gynecology in the United Kingdom replied to a postal questionnaire.

RESULTS

The various indications of cesarean section in breech presentation answered by respondents were: pre-term labor, pelvimetric measurement of inlet/outlet less than 11.5 cm, primigravida, no spontaneous labor, estimated fetal weight less than 2.5 kg or more than 3.5 kg, non-progression of labor in active phase, non-delivery after one hour of active pushing in second stage. A total of 190 respondents (60%) felt that they had been given sufficient training in vaginal breech delivery but only 125 respondents (39%) had the training in the United Kingdom.

CONCLUSION

There is a high rate of cesarean section in breech presentation due to inadequate training of junior staff in vaginal breech delivery.