Recuperación del parto vaginal de nalgas y versión cefálica externa

Objective

To review the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of the application of an updated vaginal breech delivery protocol 10 years after this practice had been discontinued.

Methods

Breech presentations were referred to a dedicated breech unit at 36 weeks where the external cephalic version was offered. If breech presentation persisted, the patients were selected to undergo attempted vaginal delivery if the following criteria were met: a) estimated fetal weight of 2.500-3.600 g; b) frank or complete breech presentation; c) absence of hyperextension of the fetal head; and d) a clinically adequate pelvis. Intrapartum criteria included: a) progression of labor of ≥ 1 cm/hour in the first hour; b) In the second stage, 90 minutes were allowed for adequate descent of the breech, and 1 hour of active pushing, and c) the availability of an on-call expert.

Results

A total of 93 patients showed single live pregnancies in breech presentation after external cephalic version. Sixty-nine patients (73.4%) underwent elective prelabor cesarean delivery, and 24 (26.6%) progressed to attempted vaginal breech delivery, which was successful in 19 (20.1%). Cesarean indications for breech presentation were reduced from 5.7% in 2009 to 2.02% after the application of external cephalic version and vaginal breech delivery (P<.001). We observed no fetal deaths, no Apgar test at 5 minutes of less than 7, no umbilical artery pH of less than 7, and no fetal injuries.

Conclusions

. When antepartum and intrapartum criteria are met, vaginal breech delivery is safe. The availability of an on-call expert allows vaginal breech delivery to be safely performed. The combination of external cephalic version and vaginal breech delivery decreases the cesarean rate for breech presentation.