Mode of Delivery Following External Cephalic Version and Induction of Labor at Term

ABSTRACT

External cephalic version should be followed by fetal and maternal surveillance until delivery. To shorten this period of surveillance, a protocol of version at term, followed by immediate induction of labor, was adopted. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of this protocol on the subsequent mode of delivery. Two hundred and ninety-one singleton breech pregnancies were included in this study. Of these, 74 cases underwent version, 75% of which were successful. Success of version compared to failed version was associated with statistically significant (p <0.001) lower rate of cesarean sections (9% and 67%, respectively). The overall rate of abdominal deliveries in the version group (74 cases) was statistically significantly lower compared with two other groups: one composed of breech pregnancies that did not undergo versions, but would have been qualified for it, had they been referred on time (121 cases), and the other (96 cases) that did not have versions done because of contraindications to its performance (cesarean rates, 23%, 54%, and 79%, respectively; p <0.001). It may be concluded that a policy of external cephalic version at term is effective in lowering the incidence of cesarean deliveries, and the added intervention of induction of labor does not negate this effect.

Keywords

Cephalic version - cesarean section - vaginal delivery