[The effect of the delivery method on the mortality of very low birth weight infants in case of breech presentation].

The authors have investigated the data of 1009 neonates born from breech presentation in the I. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Semmelweis Medical School between January 1., 1990 and December 31., 1995. The frequency of caesarean section in this group was 75.5%. In the subgroup of very small neonates (those under the birthweight of 1500 grams) caesarean section was performed in 71.4%. In this group 73.8% of the neonates were alive on the 28th postpartum day, as opposed to 37.7% in the group spontaneously delivered. The difference proved to be significant in the group weighing between 750 and 1249 grams. Intraventricular haemorrhage was also more frequent in the group spontaneously delivered. The difference was not significant in the groups under 750 grams and between 1250 and 1500 grams birthweight. Based on their investigation the authors conclude, that in the group of fetuses whose estimated birthweight is predicted to be between 750 and 1250 grams by ultrasound examination, perinatal mortality and morbidity rates in breech presentation can be improved by performing caesarean section.