Planned caesarean section for term breech delivery
RHL practical aspects by Conde-Agudelo A
FIRST CONTACT (PRIMARY CARE LEVEL)
Primary care providers can identify breech presentation through abdominal examination, vaginal examination and if available, through X-ray or ultrasonography. Once the diagnosis of breech presentation is made, the woman must be referred to a secondary or tertiary hospital with operative facilities for external cephalic version and caesarean section.
REFERRAL HOSPITAL (SECONDARY CARE) LEVEL
At this level, external cephalic versionshould be attempted in women without contraindications by a skilled and experienced obstetrician to reduce the need for caesarean delivery. If external cephalic version is unsuccessful or the woman has contraindications for external cephalic version the option would be to deliver by caesarean section.
AT HOME OR IN THE COMMUNITY
Pregnant women carrying a fetus in breech presentation should be educated regarding the benefits of external cephalic version and planned caesarean section at term.
This document should be cited as: Conde-Agudelo A. Planned caesarean section for term breech delivery: RHL practical aspects (last revised: 8 September 2003). The WHO Reproductive Health Library; Geneva: World Health Organization.