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Abstract: The purpose of this article was to perform a critical analysis of publications having estimated the utility of X-ray pelvimetry, in order to allow tangible and useful conclusions for the clinical practice. X-ray pelvimetry was proposed in 3 indications: trial of labour among patients with a history of caesarean section, breech presentation, suspicion of cephalopelvic disproportion. The large majority of these publications are retrospective studies, studying a low number of patients and especially without control groups or randomisation. Their contradictory results and their methodological weaknesses do not allow any conclusion. Published randomised trials are exceptional. Among patients with a history of caesarean section, there is only one randomised trial; it demonstrates that ante-partum X-ray pelvimetry is not necessary prior to a trial labour in women with one previous caesarean section. It increases the caesarean section rate and is a poor predictor of the outcome of labour. There is also only one randomised trial which evaluated the interest of X-ray pelvimetry in patients with a breech presentation: the use of pelvimetry in breech presentation at term does not significantly reduce the overall caesarean-section rate, and does not improve the neonatal issues. However, it allows better selection of the delivery route, with a significantly lower emergency Caesarean-section rate. Finally, the only one randomised trial having studied the utility of X-ray pelvimetry for the prediction of cephalopelvic disproportion shows that pelvimetry is a poor predictor of the outcome of labour, has no influence on the neonatal issues and increases the caesarean sections rate. Furthermore, although radiation exposure during a X-ray pelvimetry is very weak, diagnostic X-ray studies during any stage of gestation have been shown to increase the risk of childhood cancer in the irradiated fetus. In the rare cases where pelvimetry is useful (trial of labour with a breech presentation), it is thus careful to perform a MRI pelvimetry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: The objective of this chapter is to examine on the basis of the knowledge currently available the criteria available before labour for selecting women who would be eligible for trial of vaginal delivery., Methodology: Bibliographical research in French and English using the Medline and Cochrane databases between 1980 and 2019 and the recommendations of international societies., Results: It is recommended to offer women who wish to attempt a vaginal delivery at term a pelvimetry to decide with them on their mode of delivery (Grade C). The pelvimetric standards used at the time of the PREMODA study were anteroposterior diameter of inlet≥105mm, a transverse diameter of inlet≥120mm, a transverse interspinous diameter≥100mm. However, since there is no evidence about which pelvic measures to use, nor any evidence to set decision-making thresholds other than those set in published studies, the selected decision-making thresholds can be adjusted according to gestational age at delivery or fetal biometrics (Professional consensus). There is no argument for recommending the practice of pelvimetry in the case of delivery before 37 weeks gestational age (Professional consensus) and in the case of breech presentation discovered at the time of beginning of labour, the absence of pelvimetry alone does not contraindicate the attempt of vaginal delivery (Professional consensus). There is insufficient data to recommend the systematic use of fetal weight estimation and/or biparietal diameter measurement as acceptance criteria for a vaginal delivery attempt. In the event of a known fetal weight estimation before birth greater than 3800g, a cesarean section is to be preferred (Professional consensus). The breech presentation is not in itself a contraindication to an attempt of vaginal delivery for a small fetus for gestational age (Professional consensus). The presentation of the non-frank breech is not in itself a contraindication to an attempt of vaginal delivery (Professional consensus). In the case of premature breech delivery, current data do not allow to recommend one delivery route over another (Professional consensus). It is recommended to check the absence of hyperextension of the fetal head by ultrasound before an attempt of vaginal delivery (Professional consensus) and to prefer a cesarean section if such a position is found (Professional consensus). It is not recommended to propose a caesarean section with the sole reason of nulliparity (Grade C). The history of cesarean section is not in itself a contraindication to an attempt of vaginal delivery in the case of fetal breech presentation (Professional consensus). Premature rupture of the membranes is not in itself a contraindication to an attempt of vaginal delivery (Professional consensus)., Conclusion: A number of the factors analyzed in this chapter are to be incorporated into the decision-making process in order to choose with the woman whose fetus is in breech presentation the delivery route., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)