CAN LABOR WITH BREECH PRESENTATION BE INDUCED

Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of labor inducti on in women with a breech presentation, and an unripe cervix. We condu cted a retrospective, matched-paired study on patients with breech pre sentation and an unripe cervix (n = 23), who underwent induction of la bor using extra-amniotic saline instillation. The women were compared to three matched control groups: 46 women with vertex presentation and an unripe cervix, whose labor was induced by the same method, 23 with breech presentation who underwent a vaginal trial of labor, and 23 wo men with breech presentation who underwent a cesarean section without a trial of labor. In the study group, 12 women (52.2%) delivered vagin ally. Rates of Apgar score, birth trauma, and maternal morbidity were similar in all groups. Induction of labor in patients with a breech pr esentation and an unripe cervix may be attempted in selected cases as it seems to be efficacious (vaginal delivery rate of 52.2%) and safe f or both fetus and mother.