Clinical outcomes after external cephalic version with spinal anesthesia after failure of a first attempt without anesthesia

Abstract

To determine whether repeat external cephalic version (ECV) with spinal anesthesia affects clinical outcomes and cesarean delivery rates. A retrospective study was conducted using data collected at one hospital in Israel between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2015. Women with non-vertex singleton pregnancies (≥37weeks) who had a failed ECV attempt without spinal anesthesia were included in the analysis. All women were offered a repeat ECV with spinal anesthesia. Outcomes assessed were rates of vertex presentation at delivery, successful repeat ECV, and cesarean delivery. Overall, 145 of 213 ECV attempts without spinal anesthesia were successful. Of the 68 women with a failed attempt, 5 (7%) experienced spontaneous version and 18 (26%) delivered at another institution or went into spontaneous labor. Among the remaining 45 women, 28 (62%) agreed to a repeat ECV with spinal anesthesia; 11 (39%) of these procedures were successful. All 11 women experienced vertex presentation at delivery versus none of the 17 women who refused repeat ECV (P=0.003). The cesarean delivery rate was 64% (18/28) versus 100% (17/17), respectively (P=0.007). Repeat ECV with spinal anesthesia after a failed first attempt without spinal anesthesia increased vertex presentation at birth and decreased the rate of cesarean delivery.