LABOR AND DELIVERY FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL EXTERNAL CEPHALIC VERSION

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to determine if successful external cephalic version is followed by an increased likelihood of prolonged labor or operative delivery. Women having a successful external cephalic version of a normal singleton fetus ≥37 weeks' gestation between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 1998 were included. Each case was matched for gestational age at delivery (±1 week), labor onset (spontaneous or induced), prior vaginal delivery (yes or no), and cervical dilation on admission for delivery (±1 cm) to the next three patients delivering a spontaneously vertex term singleton. Maternal demographics, intrapartum variables, neonatal outcomes, and route of delivery were examined. Statistical comparisons were performed by the Student's T-test or Fisher's exact test. The 38 cases and 114 controls were similar by maternal age, race, gestational age at delivery, birth weight, and insurer. There were no differences in the frequency of epidural or oxytocin use, maternal genital tract lacerations, or blood loss at delivery. Neonatal outcomes, assessed by 1- and 5-min Apgar score