Mode of delivery and outcome of preterm infants

The aim of this work was to show neonatal outcome by the retrospective anal ysis of preterm deliveries terminated vaginally or by the caesarean section . In the six years period from 1993 to 1998 all preterm deliveries from 22 to 36 weeks of gestation were analyzed except for multiple pregnancies and st illbirths. According to the way of termination the analyzed deliveries were divided in vaginal and deliveries done by the caesarean section. In the examined period there were 19397 deliveries out of which 818 (4.21%) were preterm deliveries. Out of these preterm deliveries 648 (79.2%) were terminated vaginally and 170 (20.8%) by the caesarean section. No statistic ally significant differences were found in the incidence of intracranial he morrhage, respiratory distress syndrome, infections, early neurological sig ns and fetal mortality in partu and post partum regarding the mode of deliv ery termination.