500 Consecutive Term Breech Deliveries: Use of the Zatuchni-Andros Prognostic Scoring Index

A retrospective analysis is presented of the data derived from 500 consecutive term breech deliveries conducted at Evanston Hospital. There were 8 perinatal deaths with no stillbirth or neonatal death attributed to birth trauma. Utilization of the breech scoring index of Zatuchni and Andros clearly demonstrates that low-score patients are a high-risk group and that complications such as fetal respiratory depression, prolonged labor, and stimulation failure can be predicted to occur with far greater frequency in these patients. The authors confirm that the breech scoring index is valid and that the obstetrician now has a useful guide to assist in the proper and prompt management of the patient with a breech presentation.