Novel Three-Dimensional Body Scan Anthropometry versus MR-Pelvimetry for Vaginal Breech Delivery Assessment

In this prospective, monocentric study, we investigated the potency of a novel three-dimensional (3D) body scanner for external pelvic assessment in birth planning for intended vaginal breech delivery. Between April 2021 and June 2022, 73 singleton pregnancies with intended vaginal birth from breech presentation (>36.0 weeks of gestation) were measured using a pelvimeter by Martin, a three-dimensional body scanner, and MR-pelvimetry. Measures were related to vaginal birth and intrapartum cesarean section. A total of 26 outer pelvic dimensions and 7 inner pelvic measurements were determined. The rate of successful vaginal breech delivery was 56.9%. The AUC (area under the curve) of the obstetric conjugate (OC) measured by MRI for predicting the primary outcome was 0.62 (OR 0.63; p = 0.22), adjusted for neonatal birth weight 0.66 (OR 0.60; p = 0.19). Of the 22 measured 3D body scanner values, the ratio of waist girth to maternal height showed the best prediction (AUC = 0.71; OR 1.27; p = 0.015). The best predictive pelvimeter value was the distantia spinarum with an AUC of 0.65 (OR = 0.80). The 3D body scanner technique is at least equal to predict successful vaginal breech delivery compared to MRI diagnostics. Further large-scale, prospective studies are needed to verify these results.

Intrapartum Cesarean Section and Perinatal Outcomes after Epidural Analgesia or Remifentanil-PCA in Breech and Twin Deliveries

Comparative data on the potential impact of various forms of labor analgesia on the mode of delivery and neonatal complications in vaginal deliveries of singleton breech and twin fetuses are lacking. The present study aimed to determine the associations between type of labor analgesia (epidural analgesia (EA) vs. remifentanil patient-controlled analgesia (PCA)) and intrapartum cesarean sections (CS), and maternal and neonatal adverse outcomes in breech and twin vaginal births. A retrospective analysis of planned vaginal breech and twin deliveries at the Department of Perinatology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, was performed for the period 2013-2021, using data obtained from the Slovenian National Perinatal Information System. The pre-specified outcomes studied were the rates of CS in labor, postpartum hemorrhage, obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), an Apgar score of <7 at 5 min after birth, birth asphyxia, and neonatal intensive care admission. A total of 371 deliveries were analyzed, including 127 term breech and 244 twin births. There were no statistically significant nor clinically relevant differences between the EA and remifentanil-PCA groups in any of the outcomes studied. Our findings suggest that both EA and remifentanil-PCA are safe and comparable in terms of labor outcomes in singleton breech and twin deliveries.

Breech progression angle: new feasible and reliable transperineal ultrasound parameter for assessment of fetal breech descent in birth canal

OBJECTIVE

To assess the feasibility and reliability of transperineal ultrasound in the assessment of fetal breech descent in the birth canal, by measuring the breech progression angle (BPA).

METHODS

Women with a singleton pregnancy with the fetus in breech presentation between 34 and 41 weeks' gestation were recruited. Transperineal ultrasound images were acquired in the midsagittal view for each woman, twice by one operator and once by another. Each operator measured the BPA after anonymization of the transperineal ultrasound images. BPA was defined as the angle between a line running along the long axis of the pubic symphysis and another line extending from the most inferior portion of the pubic symphysis tangentially to the lowest recognizable fetal part in the maternal pelvis. Each operator was blinded to all other measurements performed for each woman. Intra- and interobserver reproducibility of BPA measurement was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). To investigate the presence of any bias, intra- and interobserver agreement was also analyzed using Bland-Altman analysis. Student's t-test and Levene's W₀ test were used to investigate whether a number of different clinical factors had an effect on systematic differences and homogeneity, respectively, between BPA measurements.

RESULTS

Overall, 44 women were included in the analysis. BPA was measured successfully by both operators on all images. Both intra- and interobserver agreement analyses showed excellent reproducibility in BPA measurement, with ICCs of 0.88 (95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.71-0.90), respectively. The mean difference between measurements was 0.4° (95% CI, -1.4 to 2.2°) for intraobserver repeatability and -0.4° (95% CI, -2.6 to 1.8°) for interobserver repeatability. The upper limits of agreement were 12.0° (95% CI, 8.9-15.1°) and 13.6° (95% CI, 9.9-17.3°) for intra- and interobserver repeatability, respectively. The lower limits of agreement were -11.2° (95% CI, -14.3 to -8.1°) and -14.4° (95% CI, -18.2 to -10.7°) for intra- and interobserver repeatability, respectively. No systematic difference between BPA measurements was found on either intra- or interobserver agreement analysis. None of the clinical factors examined (maternal body mass index, maternal age, gestational age at the ultrasound scan and parity) showed a statistically significant effect on intra- or interobserver reliability.

CONCLUSIONS

BPA represents a new feasible and highly reproducible measurement for the evaluation of fetal breech descent in the birth canal. Future studies assessing its usefulness in the prediction of successful external cephalic version and breech vaginal delivery are needed. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in the following delivery after previous preterm caesarean breech birth: a national cohort study

The objective of this retrospective, nationwide Finnish population-based cohort study was to determine whether there is an association between preterm caesarean breech delivery in the first pregnancy and maternal and neonatal morbidity in the subsequent pregnancy and delivery. We identified all singleton preterm breech birth in Finland from 2000 to 2017 (n = 1259) and constructed a data set of the first two deliveries for these women. We compared outcomes of the following pregnancy and delivery among women with a previous preterm caesarean breech section with the outcomes of women with one previous vaginal preterm breech birth. p Value, odds ratio, and adjusted odds ratio were calculated. Neonates of women with a previous caesarean preterm breech delivery had an increased risk for arterial umbilical cord pH below seven (1.2% versus 0%; p value .024) and a higher rate of neonatal intensive care unit admission [22.9% versus 15% adjusted OR 1.57 (1.13-2.18); p value <.001]. The women with a previous caesarean section had a higher rate of uterine rupture (2.3% versus 0%; p value .001). They were also more likely in the subsequent pregnancy to have a planned caesarean section [19.9% versus 4% adjusted OR 8.55 (4.58-15.95), an emergency caesarean section [21.5% versus 9.7% adjusted OR 2.16 (1.28-2.18)], or an instrumental vaginal delivery [9.3% versus 3.8% adjusted OR 2.38 (1.08-5.23)].IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Vaginal birth after caesarean section is generally known to be associated with a higher risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity.What do the results of this study add? The following birth after previous caesarean preterm breech section is associated with a higher rate of uterine rupture and with a higher rate neonatal admission to the neonatal intensive care unit and more often an arterial umbilical cord pH below seven regardless of the mode of the following delivery, compared to women with a subsequent delivery after a previous vaginal preterm breech birth.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Our results must be considered when counselling patients regarding their first preterm breech delivery, as the selected method of delivery also affects the outcomes of subsequent pregnancies and deliveries.

A retrospective cohort study of the impact of In Time obstetric simulation training on management of vaginal breech deliveries

BACKGROUND

Following the Term Breech Trial, vaginal breech deliveries are rarely undertaken in Australia. Some women choose to have a breech delivery following counselling, while others will present in labour with an undiagnosed breech. Clinicians need to be skilled in vaginal breech delivery despite this being a rare clinical situation. Simulation training provides a means by which uncommon clinical situations can be practised.

AIM

This study aims to determine if the introduction of a simulation-based training course is associated with an improvement in the management of vaginal breech delivery and neonatal outcomes.

METHODS

Cases of term vaginal breech delivery five years prior to introduction of In Time training (2001-2005) and five years after In Time training (2007-2011) were identified in a tertiary obstetric hospital (King Edward Memorial Hospital, Perth). There were 136 women identified in the pre-training (2001-2005, n = 56) and post-training (2007-2011, n = 80) groups. Case note review was undertaken to gather information.

RESULTS

Apgar scores of <7 at five minutes were higher in the post-training cohort (8.8% vs 0%, P = 0.041). Arterial and venous pH readings were similar between cohorts, with a non-significant trend toward improvement in the post-training cohort. Special care nursery admissions and length of hospital stay were unchanged. The primary accoucheur was more likely to be a consultant (35.0% vs 16.4%) in the post-training cohort. Appropriate manoeuvres were more likely to be used in the post-training cohort (52.5% vs 44.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Obstetric In Time simulation training improved seniority of accoucheur and documented appropriate manoeuvres in the management of term vaginal breech delivery.

Delayed Birth-Related Femur Fracture after Cesarean Section: A Case Report

Background  Birth-related femur fractures are rare. They have been reported following difficult delivery and are commonly diagnosed immediately after birth or on the following day. However, some birth-related femur fractures are diagnosed several days after birth. Mechanisms underlying the development of delayed femur fracture are incompletely understood. Case  We report the case of a girl diagnosed with a left spiral femur fracture with associated edema and hypoesthesia on postpartum day 9. A nondisplacement femur fracture was identified on plain radiography at birth after cesarean section; however, it was undiagnosed due to the lack of symptoms. She was treated with plaster cast fixation; the physical examination at age 1 was normal. Herein, the diagnosis of birth-related femur fracture according to plain radiography findings suggests that the symptoms related to birth trauma develop several days after birth. Conclusion  Birth-related fracture should be considered in all neonatal femur fracture cases and in patients with no symptoms at birth. Neonates delivered in the breech presentation by cesarean section should be carefully monitored after birth. The findings of the present case further our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying delayed diagnosis of birth-related femur fracture.

Neurodevelopmental outcome at the age of 4 years according to the planned mode of delivery in term breech presentation: a nationwide, population-based record linkage study

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether a trial of planned vaginal breech labor affects neurologic development in children.

METHODS

This is a nationwide, Finnish, population-based record linkage study. An odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals was used to estimate the relative risk that a child delivered by planned vaginal breech labor would be diagnosed with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome (cerebral palsy, epilepsy, intellectual disability, sensor neural developmental outcome, hyperactivity, speech and language problems) at the age of 4 years. The reference group were children born by planned cesarean section.

RESULTS

During a study period of 7 years, 8374 infants were delivered in breech position. Among them, 3907 (46.7%) had an attempted labor and 4467 (53.3%) infants were delivered by planned cesarean section. There were no differences in the neurodevelopmental outcome. In the planned vaginal labor group, 133 (3.4%) children had an abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome at the age of 4 years compared to 142 (3.2%) in the planned cesarean section group.

CONCLUSION

The absolute risk of abnormal neurological outcome in breech deliveries at term was low, regardless of planned mode of birth. Planned vaginal breech labor did not increase the risk for abnormal neurological outcome compared to planned cesarean section.

Is vaginal breech delivery associated with higher risk for perinatal death and cerebral palsy compared with vaginal cephalic birth? Registry-based cohort study in Norway

OBJECTIVE

This paper aims to study if vaginal breech delivery is associated with increased risk for neonatal mortality (NNM) or cerebral palsy (CP) in Norway where vaginal delivery accounts for 1/3 of all breech deliveries.

DESIGN

Cohort study using information from the national Medical BirthRegister and Cerebral Palsy Register.

SETTING

Births in Norway 1999-2009.

PARTICIPANTS

520 047 term-born singletons without congenital malformations.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

NNM, CP and a composite outcome of these and death during birth.

RESULTS

Compared with cephalic births, breech births had substantially increased risk for NNM but not for CP. Vaginal delivery was planned for 7917 of 16 700 fetuses in breech, while 5561 actually delivered vaginally. Among these, NNM was 0.9 per 1000 compared with 0.3 per 1000 in vaginal cephalic delivery, and 0.8 per 1000 in those actually born by caesarean delivery (CD) in breech. Compared with planned cephalic delivery, planned vaginal delivery was associated with excess risk for NNM (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2 to 4.9), while the OR associated with planned breech CD was 1.6 (95% CI 0.7 to 3.7). These risks were attenuated when NNM was substituted by the composite outcome. Vaginal breech delivery was not associated with excess risk for CP compared with vaginal cephalic delivery.

CONCLUSION

Vaginal breech delivery, regardless of whether planned or actual, and actual breech CD were associated with excess risk for NNM compared with vaginal cephalic delivery, but not with CP. The risk for NNM and CP in planned breech CD did not differ significantly from planned vaginal cephalic delivery. However, the absolute risk for these outcomes was low, and taking into consideration potential long-term adverse consequences of CD for the child and later deliveries, we therefore conclude that vaginal breech delivery may be recommended, provided competent obstetric care and strict criteria for selection to vaginal delivery.

Case of pituitary stalk transection syndrome ascertained after breech delivery

Pituitary stalk transection syndrome (PSTS) is a rare complication that can accompany breech delivery. Early diagnosis of this syndrome is difficult, and it may cause a serious delay in the diagnosis. We present a case of PSTS ascertained after breech delivery. A 20-year-old woman presented with primary amenorrhea. The patient was born by breech delivery and had a history of treatment for pituitary dwarfism. Her laboratory findings showed pituitary hypothyroidism, and hormone replacement therapy was initiated. At 28 years old, she became pregnant and had a normal delivery at 38 weeks' gestation. One year after delivery, her thyroid hormone level changed. Laboratory test showed adrenocortical insufficiency, and magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland showed transection of the pituitary stalk and development of an ectopic posterior lobe. These findings were compatible with PSTS. When a patient who has been born by breech delivery presents with symptoms of pituitary deficiency, PSTS should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Impact of obstetric factors on outcome of extremely preterm births in Sweden: prospective population-based observational study (EXPRESS)

INTRODUCTION

A population-based observational study investigated the contribution of obstetric factors to the survival and postnatal development of extremely preterm infants.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Mortality up to 1 year and neurodevelopment at 2.5 years (Bayley-III test, cerebral palsy, vision, hearing) were evaluated in infants born before 27 weeks of gestation in Sweden 2004-2007 (n = 1011), using logistic regression analyses of risk factors.

RESULTS

Of 844 fetuses alive at admission, 8.4% died in utero before labor, 7.8% died intrapartum. Of 707 live-born infants, 15% died within 24 h, 70% survived ≥365 days, 64% were assessed at 2.5 years. The risk of death within 24 h after birth decreased with gestational age [odds ratio (OR) 0.3; 95% CI 0.2-0.4], antenatal corticosteroids (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.6), and cesarean section (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.9); it increased with multiple birth (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.5-6.0), vaginal breech delivery (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.0-5.1), 5-min Apgar score <4 (OR 50.4; 95% CI 28.2-90.2), and birth at a level II hospital (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.2-5.3). The risk of death between 1 and 365 days remained significantly decreased for gestational age and corticosteroids. The risk of mental developmental delay at 2.5 years decreased with gestational age, birthweight and fetal growth; it increased with vaginal breech delivery (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-7.4), male gender, low Apgar score and high Clinical Risk Index for Babies score.

CONCLUSION

Several obstetric factors, including abdominal delivery, influenced the risk of death within the first day of life, but not later. Antenatal corticosteroids and gestational age decreased the mortality up to 1 year. Mental developmental delay was related to vaginal breech delivery.