[Term breech presentations in singleton pregnancies: a continuous series of 418 cases]. / La présentation du siège singleton à terme. À propos d'une série continue de 418 cas.

AIMS: The obstetrical management of term breech presentations in singleton pregnancies usually opposes the advocates of elective caesarean section to vaginal birth. Twelve years after the Term Breech Trial and 6 years after the PREMODA study, the aims of this work are to analyze neonatal results according to route of delivery chosen before labour and to evaluate professional practices in an important continuous series of cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study including all breech singleton pregnancies that delivered at our level III labour ward at 37 weeks of amenorrhea, from 1st January 2005 to 31st December 2011. All data were analyzed in intention to treat. RESULTS: Of the 418 patients included during the study period, 52% of them delivered vaginally. In 81% of cases, a vaginal birth trial was accepted and 64% of these patients delivered vaginally. Severe morbidity and neonatal mortality judgement criteria were not significantly different between the vaginal birth trial and the elective caesarean groups. Our obstetrical department continues to provide residents with specific training in the management of breech presentations. In this study, 60% of breech deliveries were performed by residents. CONCLUSION: Although a limited statistical power, this study did not bring any proof in favour of elective caesarean for singleton term breech presentations. Training residents in the management of vaginal breech deliveries is feasible and highly recommended.

[Umbilical cord prolapse: a case study over 23 years]. / La procidence du cordon : à propos d'une série sur 23 années d'activité

AIM: To determine the incidence of umbilical cord prolapse, the characteristics of the population, and to evaluate its management and the neonatal prognosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ninety-three cases of cord prolapse that occurred between January 1986 and December 2009 at our level III labour ward were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of cord prolapse was 0.18%. It occurred in 66.7% of cases in multiparous patients, in 19.4% of cases in twin pregnancies, and in 41.9% of cases in breech presentations. In 34.4% of cases, the gestational age was less than 37 weeks. Birth occurred vaginally in 33.3% of cases with a delivery time interval significantly less than for caesarean sections (P<0.001). At complete cervical dilation, more than three quarter of patients delivered vaginally. Vaginal birth was significantly more frequent in case of breech (P=0.009) and second twin (P=0.03). Parity did not influence birth route. Neonates with a birth weight less than 2500 g (30.1%) had significantly more frequently an Apgar score less than 7 at 5 min (P=0.02), a higher rate of transfer to intensive care (P<0.001) and a longer hospital stay (P=0.002). We report six neonatal deaths (6.5%). Neonatal status was not influenced by the time interval for delivery. CONCLUSION: Umbilical cord prolapse is still nowadays a serious complication of pregnancy, responsible for a significant rate of neonatal mortality. The aim in case of cord prolapse is to obtain fetal delivery the quickest way possible so as to improve the neonatal outcome. In some particular obstetrical situations such as breech presentations and second twin deliveries, birth occurs faster if performed vaginally as shown by our case study.

[Twin delivery with the first twin in breech position. A study of 137 continuous cases]. / L'accouchement gémellaire en cas de premier jumeau en présentation podalique. Étude d'une série continue de 137 cas.

AIM: The first twin (T1) in breech position is at risk of complications during vaginal delivery, making the choice of the appropriate delivery route highly important. Although British and American practice guidelines recommend the cesarean section, the French National College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concluded that there was not enough data to choose one delivery route or the other. In this context, we set out to describe practices in our centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our retrospective study was conducted at a level III labor ward between January 1st, 1995 and December 31st, 2006. One hundred and thirty-seven twin pregnancies at more than 26 gestational weeks (GW), with T1 in breech and T2 in any position, were included. RESULTS: A cesarean section was performed before labor in 60.6 % cases. Among the 54 (39.4 %) cases where a trial of labor was accepted, 29 patients (53.7 % success rate) delivered vaginally and 25 (46.3 %) had a cesarean section during labor. No statistical difference was observed between the neonatal outcomes after cesarean section as compared to vaginal birth. However, a significant relationship was found between delivery route and parity. Less than one-third of nulliparas versus two-third of patients with a history of at least one delivery, having trials of labor, ultimately gave birth vaginally. Thus, we observed a high rate of cesarean section during labor in nulliparas (68 % of the initially accepted trials of labor). CONCLUSION: Our study is the first one that clearly shows that the success rate of the trial of labor is closely related to a history of vaginal birth. Following these results and because of more than two-third of cesarean section during labor in nulliparas, we subsequently plan an elective cesarean section at the 38th GW for nulliparas with twin pregnancies and T1 in breech position. Nevertheless, if any of these patients go in labor before the cesearean section, a careful trial of labor is offered.