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Grand Rounds

Cesarean or Vaginal Delivery for Extremely Preterm Breech Singletons Less Than 28 Weeks?

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: 

  • Breech presentation occurs in 30 to 35% of pregnancies between 22-28 weeks 
  • Best mode of delivery for preterm and extremely preterm breech is unclear  
  • Gravovac et al. (BJOG 2018) assessed the safest mode of delivery for preterm breech singletons  

METHODS: 

  • Systematic review and meta-analysis  
  • Database search of studies comparing outcomes by delivery mode in actively resuscitated breech infants 
    • All published RCTs and observational (cohort and case-control) studies  
  • Extremely preterm: Defined as <28 weeks 
  • Not actively resuscitated removed so as not to bias toward cesarean section  
  • Primary outcomes (stratified by gestational age) 
    • Death (neonatal, before discharge, or by 6 months)  
    • Severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH grades III/IV) 

RESULTS: 

  • 15 studies were included, totaling 12,335 infants 
  • Recommendations based on GRADE methods
    • ‘Strong’ recommendation for those findings that were significant  
  • Cesarean delivery associated with decreased odds of death  
    • 23w0d–27w6d: Odds Ratio (OR) 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.95 (strong recommendation for cesarean) 
    • 23w0d-24w6d: OR 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44–0.75 (strong recommendation for cesarean)  
    • 25w0d-26w6d: OR 0.72; 95% CI, 0.34-1.52 (weak recommendation for cesarean) 
    • 27w0d-27w6d: OR 2.04; 95% CI, 0.20-20.62 (weak recommendation against cesarean) 
  • Cesarean delivery associated with decreased odds of severe IVH 
    • 23w0d-27w6d: OR 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.91 (strong recommendation for cesarean) 
    • 25w0d-26w6d: OR 0.29; 95% CI, 0.07–1.12 (weak recommendation for cesarean) 
    • 27w0d-27w6d: OR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.27-3.05 (weak recommendation for cesarean) 
  • Mean proportion of head entrapment 
    • 1.1% with caesarean delivery vs 5.5% with vaginal delivery in 4 studies 
    • Dührssen incisions were performed in one study for three cases of head entrapment 

CONCLUSION: 

  • C-sections were associated with a 41% reduction in odds for death (particularly in the youngest GA bracket) and a 49% reduction in odds for intraventricular hemorrhage in actively resuscitated breech singletons <28 weeks of gestation 
  • The authors state that “In infants born between 23+0 and 24+6 weeks, caesarean section was associated with a significant reduction in odds of death before discharge to 6 months corrected age, which according to GRADE would have a strong recommendation.” 
  • Limitations include 
    • Data is mostly observational  
    • Scarce data on associated morbidities 

Learn More – Primary Sources:  

What is the safest mode of birth for extremely preterm breech singleton infants who are actively resuscitated? A systematic review and meta-analyses.

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Related ObG Topics:

Updated Outcomes Data for Neonates less than 500 Grams at Birth

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