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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · AJP Rep 2019; 09(04): e384-e388
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3401800
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

External Cephalic Version in Cases of Imminent Delivery at Preterm Gestational Ages: A Prospective Series

Meghan G. Hill
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
,
Kathryn L. Reed
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors have no financial support to disclose.
Further Information

Publication History

23 June 2019

15 October 2019

Publication Date:
31 December 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective When delivery of a breech fetus is required at a preterm gestational age, Cesarean delivery is often recommended. We performed a prospective patient series to assess the success rate and safety of performing external cephalic version (ECV) procedures on preterm fetuses as an alternative to Cesarean delivery.

Study Design We performed a prospective clinical series of patients who required delivery with a malpresenting fetus at a preterm gestational age.

Results ECV procedures were successful in singletons 50% of the time. No significant complications or cases of fetal mortality were documented.

Conclusion ECV at preterm gestational ages may be an appropriate approach to management in patients requiring delivery. Larger series are needed to further document success rates and risks of the procedure.

Keywords

preterm - external cephalic version - preterm labor - preterm birth - breech

Precis

External cephalic version may be an appropriate procedure to offer as an alternative to Cesarean delivery at preterm gestational ages.


 

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