Discourse on the Mother's Decision Regarding the Mode of Delivery in Cases of Breech Presentation

NCT07314970 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 200

Last updated 2026-01-02

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Breech presentation is a common occurrence in routine practice, occurring in 3-4% of all term pregnancies. Despite its frequency, breech presentation at term remains a subject of considerable controversy within the medical community. This results in differing management approaches depending on the country, the center, and the practitioner. Indeed, from a pathophysiological perspective, during a breech delivery, the fetal head is the last segment to descend into the maternal pelvis. This is the largest fetal segment in terms of volume. Furthermore, the fetal head cannot accommodate itself to the maternal pelvis through plastic deformation. This presentation can therefore lead to specific complications that may be life-threatening for the unborn child.

Despite its frequency, breech presentation at term remains a subject of considerable controversy within the medical community regarding the management of labor. In the 2000s, a randomized trial called the TERM BREECH TRIAL found a neonatal benefit of planned cesarean section compared to vaginal delivery of a breech fetus (prevention of perinatal death in 1% of cases). This resulted in a significant increase in the rate of planned cesarean sections for breech presentation worldwide. However, numerous more recent studies (notably PREMODA in France) have highlighted the many biases of the Term Breech Trial, and various literature reviews (including the 2015 Cochrane review) have demonstrated lower perinatal morbidity than that found by Hannah's team. In 2020, the CNGOF (National College of Gynecologists and Obstetricians of France) published new recommendations on the management of breech presentations at the end of pregnancy, proposing vaginal delivery as a possible alternative to a planned cesarean section, provided that the patient receives clear and honest information (benefits and risks of each delivery method). The choice of delivery method must be made in consultation with the patient after a dedicated consultation. Since these recommendations were published, management practices still vary between hospitals despite fairly precise guidelines.

Conditions

  • Breech Presentation

Interventions

OTHER

To complete a questionnaire

Doctor and Adult woman agreeing to complete the self-administered questionnaire anonymously.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

    lead OTHER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-01-28
Primary Completion
2026-02-28
Completion
2026-02-28

Countries

  • France

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07314970 on ClinicalTrials.gov