Abstract
Objective: To test the predictive value of the Physiological Breech
Birth Algorithm. Design: Retrospective case-control study Setting:
Teaching Hospital, United Kingdom Population/sample: Cases were all
vaginal breech births >37 weeks’ gestation where neonatal
admission or death occurred between April 2012 and April 2020. Controls
were the two term breech births without admission immediately prior to
the cases. Methods: Data was collected from intrapartum care records and
analysed using SPSS v26 statistical software. The chi-square test was
used to determine association between exposure to the variables of
interest and admission to the neonatal unit. Multiple logistic
regression was used to test the predictive value of delays defined as
non-adherence to the Algorithm. Main outcome measures: Intervals between
the start of labour, the start of second stage of labour and various
stages of emergence (presenting part, buttocks, pelvis, arms, head).
Results: Logistic regressing modelling using the Algorithm time frames
had an 84.2% accuracy, a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of
92.3%. Delays between umbilicus and head >3 minutes (OR:
9.508 [95% CI: 1.390-65.046] p=0.022) and from buttocks on the
perineum to head >7 minutes (OR: 6.682 [95% CI:
0.940-41.990] p=0.058) showed the most effect. Lengths of time until
the first intervention were also longer among the cases, suggesting that
at least some of this delay is modifiable. Conclusions: Improved
recognition of delay and efficient assistance may help improve vaginal
breech birth outcomes. Further research should determine whether
training based on the Physiological Breech Birth Algorithm can reduce
neonatal admissions.