Type of breech presentation and prognosis for delivery.

BACKGROUND: Although its role in the prognosis for delivery remains controversial, the type of breech is sometimes taken into account in the decision about mode of delivery. Objective of our study was to compare maternal and neonatal morbidity for trial of vaginal delivery according to the type of breech (complete or frank). MATERIAL AND METHOD: Single-center retrospective study of women with trials of vaginal delivery of a singleton fetus in breech presentation at of after 37 weeks of gestation. Neonatal status was assessed by the composite variable of the Term Breech Trial, first considered alone, and then with the addition of a 5-min Apgar score < 7 or a neonatal arterial pH<7.0. RESULTS: Of the 495 trials of vaginal delivery during the study period, approximately one third of them were complete breech (35.8 %) and two thirds frank (64.2 %). The frequency of cesareans during labor was similar regardless of the type of breech (16.4 for complete vs 12.6 % for frank, p=0.24), nor did neonatal morbidity differ (1.7 for complete vs 4.1 % for frank, p=0.15). On the other hand, cord prolapse occurred almost exclusively in complete breech presentations (4.5 vs 0.3 %, p<0.01), and prognosis was good in all cases. Complete breech presentations were also associated with more frequent use of forceps to the after-coming head (16.2 vs 9.7 %, p<0.05). Finally, there were non significant difference between the two types of breech concerning severe acidosis but it seemed to have it more in frank breech (2.3 vs 1.2 %, p=0.34). CONCLUSION: Among women eligible for vaginal delivery, the type of breech presentation (complete or frank) has little influence on delivery maternal and neonatal morbidity. The type of breech need not be taken into account in deciding the route of delivery.

Success rates of early versus late initiation of external cephalic version.

OBJECTIVE: To determine optimum timing of external cephalic version (ECV). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Israel between February 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017. Healthy primiparous women with breech presentation were offered either early ECV (35-36 weeks; n=54) or late ECV (37-38 weeks; n=106). Group assignment was according to the patient's preference and physician availability. The primary outcome was the rate of cephalic presentation at delivery. Secondary outcomes included rate of cesarean delivery, presentation of fetus after the first and last ECVs, and serious fetal complications. RESULTS: The incidence of undergoing more than two ECV attempts was 18.5% in the early ECV group and 5.6% in the late ECV group (P=0.039). The incidence of cephalic presentation after the first ECV was 72.2% in the early ECV group versus 66.0% in the late ECV group (P=0.048). By contrast, no statistically significant between-group differences were found for presentation at delivery or rate of cesarean delivery. The other outcomes were also similar. CONCLUSION: Early initiation of ECV among primiparous women increased the chance of immediate cephalic presentation; however, it had no effect on presentation at delivery or cesarean delivery rate.

Does breech delivery in an upright position instead of on the back improve outcomes and avoid cesareans?

OBJECTIVE: To compare breech outcomes when mothers delivering vaginally are upright, on their back, or planning cesareans. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of all women who presented for singleton breech delivery at a center in Frankfurt, Germany, between January 2004 and June 2011. RESULTS: Of 750 women with term breech delivery, 315 (42.0%) planned and received a cesarean. Of 269 successful vaginal deliveries of neonates, 229 in the upright position were compared with 40 in the dorsal position. Upright deliveries were associated with significantly fewer delivery maneuvers (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.31-0.68) and neonatal birth injuries (OR 0.08, 95% CI 0.01-0.58), second stages that were 42% shorter on average (1.02 vs 1.77 hours), and nonsignificantly decreased serious perineal lacerations (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.05-3.99). When upright position was used almost exclusively, the cesarean rate decreased. Serious fetal and neonatal morbidity potentially related to birth mode was low, and similar for upright vaginal deliveries compared with planned cesareans (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.10-19.11). Three neonates died; all had lethal birth defects. Forceps were never required. CONCLUSION: Upright vaginal breech delivery was associated with reductions in duration of the second stage of labor, maneuvers required, maternal/neonatal injuries, and cesarean rate when compared with vaginal delivery in the dorsal position.

Taxonomy for complexity theory in the context of maternity care.

BACKGROUND: The linear focus of 'normal science' is unable to adequately take account of the complex interactions that direct health care systems. There is a turn towards complexity theory as a more appropriate framework for understanding system behaviour. However, a comprehensive taxonomy for complexity theory in the context of health care is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to build a taxonomy based on the key complexity theory components that have been used in publications on complexity theory and health care, and to explore their explanatory power for health care system behaviour, specifically for maternity care. METHOD: A search strategy was devised in PubMed and 31 papers were identified as relevant for the taxonomy. FINDINGS: The final taxonomy for complexity theory included and defined 11 components. The use of waterbirth and the impact of the Term Breech trial showed that each of the components of our taxonomy has utility in helping to understand how these techniques became widely adopted. It is not just the components themselves that characterise a complex system but also the dynamics between them.

Implantación de un sistema de gestión de riesgos en obstetricia: aprendiendo de los errores / Implementation of a patient safety program in obstetrics: learning from mistakes

Objetivos. Describir la implantación de un sistema de gestión de riesgos y presentar los resultados obtenidos en el primer año. Material y métodos. El sistema se implantó en todos los ingresos en el área de obstetricia e incluyó un registro de sucesos adversos (SA) y un sistema de notificaciones voluntarias (NV). Resultados. Un 9,26% de los ingresos en obstetricia presentan algún tipo de SA. Éstos son más frecuentes en el puerperio (6,61%) y en los ingresos con cesárea (16,04%) que en los partos instrumentales (10,63%) y en los partos eutócicos (7,40%). La mayoría de las NV hacen referencia a incidentes; un 72% generan mejora.Conclusiones. El sistema de gestión de riesgos en obstetricia permite elaborar estrategias encaminadas a mejorar la seguridad del paciente. En obstetricia es importante porque es una causa frecuente de ingreso, por los frecuentes problemas legales asociados a la práctica obstétrica y por los potenciales efectos sobre la madre y su hijo (AU)

Objective. To describe the implementation of a patient safety program in an obstetrics department and the results obtained. Material and methods. The program was applied in all women admitted to the labor and delivery unit. To detect adverse events, a patient safety indicator system that allows monitoring over time was designed and an anonymous event reporting tool was activated. Results. An adverse event occurred in 9.26% of hospitalized patients. Adverse events were more common in the puerperium (6.61%) and after cesarean delivery (16.04%) than in instrumental (10.63%) and vaginal delivery (7.40%). Most of the notifications concerned potential adverse events (near misses) and 72% led to improvements. Conclusions. Our program detects adverse events and allows improvement measures to be designed. In obstetrics, safety is of great importance because of the potential effects to mother and child. Furthermore, childbirth is a frequent cause of hospitalization and litigation in obstetrics is common (AU)

[Obstetric and perinatal outcomes of a disreputable presentation: the nonfrank breech]. / Pronostic obstétrical et néonatal d'une présentation podalique de mauvaise réputation: le siège complet.

OBJECTIVES: A nonfrank breech is generally believed to be associated with abnormal labor and risk of cord prolapse. Owing to these risks, many authors consider such a presentation as a positive indication for cesarean section. The purpose of this study was to estimate the delivery characteristics of nonfrank breech with a gestational age over 37 weeks and particularities of this presentation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included all deliveries with a nonfrank breech presentation and a gestational age over 37 weeks over a sixteen years period in our maternity ward. A descriptive analysis of maternal, fetal and obstetrical elements was carried out. RESULTS: 198 deliveries were indexed with 54% vaginal birth, regularly observed throughout the study period. Thirty percent delivered by prelabor planned cesarean section and 16% by cesarean section during labor. When a vaginal birth trial was allowed, at last 77.4% delivered by this route. Average labor time in the vaginal birth group was only 4.5 hours. Eleven cord prolapses were found (5.6%) of which more than half delivered by vaginal birth without fetal complications. Perinatal outcomes were satisfactory for the whole population, without differences between cesarean section and vaginal birth. DISCUSSION: Cord prolapse is a risk of nonfrank breech presentation but abnormal labor is not more frequent than with frank breech presentations if labor is managed rigorously. More than 75% patients of the vaginal birth trial group delivered by vaginal birth with perinatal outcomes as good as the cesarean section group. Unlike traditional reports, in our study a nonfrank breech was not an unfavorable factor for vaginal birth after strict selection of vaginal birth trial candidates.

The premature breech: trial of labor or cesarean section?

Sixty-six premature breech deliveries were studied retrospectively. Forty-eight patients were permitted a trial of labor, 47 of whom ultimately delivered vaginally. Eighteen patients underwent cesarean section as soon as possible after their arrival at the delivery suite. When Apgar scores, perinatal mortality rates, cord prolapse, and entrapment of the aftercoming head are considered, cesarean section is probably the safer course of management for the patient with a footling breech infant, especially when the infant weighs 1500 g or less. However, the data indicate that a trial of labor can be safely undertaken in the presence of a premature frank or complete breech presentation.