Objective: To determine the etiologic factors, circumstances of diagnosis, obstetrical management and complications of face presentation and to value the maternal and foetal prognosis of this presentation.
Patients and methods: Thirty-two cases of face presentation have been observed in the maternity wards of Reims and Troyes over the last 12 years.
Results: The incidence of face presentation was 0.7 per 1000 deliveries. Spontaneous vaginal delivery occurred with mento-anterior presentation 73% of the time and caesarean section was performed in 100% of mento-posterior presentation. There was no increasing rate of foetal or maternal mortality and morbidity with vaginal delivery.
Discussion and conclusion: Face presentation is an unusual complication of pregnancy with obstetric factors that predispose the foetus to face presentation. The low foetal and maternal mortality and morbidity substantiate the effectiveness of conservative management in face presentation.