The Term Breech Trial (Canada)

[Highlander]

Stats for those interested:

90% of the assigned elective CS group had a CS birth

57% of the assigned vag group had a vaginal birth

CS group - 1.6% babies died/serious complications
vag group - 5%

Maternal death/morbidity - 3.9% CS group
3.2% vag group

Highlander, what is this? Sounds interesting. Can you give more details?

I'm too terrified to do a link

www.cmaj.ca (should be free access)

Polencia,R et al (2006) Vol 174, p1109

The above article is a cost analysis of vag vs CS based on the Term Breech Trial, but the introduction summarises nicely the main outcomes of the trial.

Link

Very interesting. Thanks Highlander and Laura.

There was another, similiar trial started in the UK I think but was halted after 18 months due to overwhelming evidence that elective CS was far safer for all concerned. Docotor friend told me about it in passing, don't know if it was published.

Seems a bit of a slightly controversial subject I believe!!

I would point out that the Candaians have a highly medicalised vag birth system (induction, episiotomy, instrumentation), which may account for only the low number of vag breeches in the trial actaully being born vaginally.