[Ultrasonic convex array probe applied to increase success rate of external cephalic version without anesthesia].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of using ultrasonic convex array probe compressing abdominal wall to increase success rate of external cephalic version (ECV) without anesthesia in full-term and near-term pregnancy. Methods: Totally 190 singleton and non-cephalic presentation pregnant women in 36-39+4 weeks of gestation performed ECV from April 2019 to August 2023 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were analyzed. According to whether use the ultrasound probe compressing fetal breech or not, the pregnant women were divided into two groups: 81 cases in the probe-compressing group (including primipara 61 cases and multipara 20 cases) and 109 cases in the non-probe-compressing group(including primipara 72 cases and multipara 37 cases). Clinical data, ECV related factors and complications were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: (1) The overall success rate of ECV was 64.2% (122/190). There was no significant difference in the success rate of ECV between probe-compressing group and non-probe-compressing group [69.1% (56/81) vs 60.6% (66/109), χ2=1.490, P=0.222]. The total vaginal delivery rate after successful ECV was 81.1% (99/122), while 71.1% (54/76) in primipara and 97.8% (45/46) in multipara, respectively. (2) Compare to the non-probe-compressing group, the success rate of ECV in primipara was significantly higher in the probe-compressing group [45.8% (33/72) vs 70.5% (43/61)], but the gestational age was shorter and the height was higher in the probe-compressing group (all P<0.05). The success rate of ECV of multipara in the probe-compressing group (65.0%, 13/20) was lower than that in the non-probe-compressing group (89.2%, 33/37), but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). (3) Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that abdominal wall compressed by ultrasound probe (OR=2.601, 95%CI: 1.113-6.075; P=0.027) and amniotic fluid index (AFI; OR=1.010, 95%CI: 1.001-1.020; P=0.028) were positive factors for the successful rate of ECV in primipara pregnant women. (4) The main complication of ECV was transient fetal heart rate reduction (8.9%,17/190), the incidence in the probe-compressing group was significantly higher than that in the non-probe-compressing group [14.8% (12/81) vs 4.6% (5/109); χ2=5.967, P=0.015]. No statistical differences were found in rates of complications between the ECV successful and unsuccessful pregnant women, and between probe-compressing and non-probe-compressing groups (all P>0.05). No adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes related to ECV were observed. Conclusions: The ultrasonic convex array probe compressing could significantly improve the success rate of ECV in primipara without increasing the incidence of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The success rate of ECV in primipara is influenced by AFI and operation mode.

Effect of anesthesia on the success rate of external cephalic version: GRADE- assessed systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: External cephalic version (ECV) is a medical procedure in which an extracorporeal manipulation is performed to render the breech presentation (BP) fetus in the cephalic position. The use of anesthesia to facilitate repositioning has been evaluated in various randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but its potential effectiveness remains controversial. METHODS: A systematic literature search was carried out in 8 electronic databases. In the meta-analysis, a random effects model was used to calculate the pooled relative risk (RR) and its 95% confidence interval (CI), and the pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) and its 95% CI, in order to systematically assess the effect of anesthesia on the success rates of ECV, vaginal delivery, cesarean delivery as well as other outcomes. Relevant subgroup analyses, publication bias test and sensitivity analyses were also conducted. RESULTS: This review included 17 RCTs. Women who received anesthesia had a significantly higher incidence of successful ECV (RR: 1.37, 95% CIs: 1.19-1.58) and vaginal delivery (RR: 1.23, 95% CIs: 1.03-1.47), and a significantly lower incidence of cesarean delivery (RR: 0.69, 95% CIs: 0.53-0.91), compared with those who did not. CONCLUSION: The administration of anesthesia not only significantly reduces maternal pain but also significantly increases the success rate of ECV in women with malpresentation at term, leading to a significant rise in the incidence of vaginal delivery. However, it may increase the incidence of maternal hypotension. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol was prospectively registered with PROSPERO, registration CRD42022381552.

A national survey of clinicians' opinions of rotational vaginal births.

INTRODUCTION: Malposition of the fetal head, defined as occiput transverse or posterior positions, occurs in approximately 5% of births. At full cervical dilatation, fetal malposition is associated with an increased risk of rotational vaginal birth. There are three different rotational methods: manual rotation, rotational ventouse or rotational (Kielland's) forceps. In the absence of robust evidence, it is not currently known which of the three methods is most efficacious, and safest for parents and babies. OBJECTIVE: To gain greater insights into opinions and preferences of rotational birth to explore the acceptability and feasibility of performing a randomised trial comparing different rotational methods. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was sent via email to obstetricians from the British Maternal Fetal Medicine Society, as well as expert obstetricians and active academics in ongoing research in the UK. The questions focussed on perceived competence, preferred rotational method, location (theatre or labour room), willingness to recruit to an RCT, and its outcome measures. Closed questions were followed by the option of free text to allow further comments. The free text answers underwent thematic analysis. RESULTS: 252 consultant obstetricians responded. The majority stated they were competent in performing manual rotation (88.1%). Half felt proficient using Kielland's rotational forceps (54.4%). Most obstetricians felt skilled in rotational ventouse (76.2%). Manual rotation was the preferred first rotational method of choice in cases of both occiput transverse and posterior positions. The decision for which rotational method to attempt first was considered case-dependent by many. Two thirds of obstetricians would usually conduct rotational births in theatre (67.9%). Over half (52%) do not routinely use intrapartum ultrasound. Most (62.7%) would be willing to recruit to a randomised controlled trial comparing manual versus instrumental rotation. Over half (57.2%) would be willing to recruit to the same RCT if they were the most senior doctor competent in rotational vaginal birth supervising a junior. CONCLUSION: There is a wide range of practice in conducting rotational vaginal births in the UK. An RCT to investigate the impact of different rotational methods on outcome would be both feasible and desirable, especially in research-active hospitals.

Impact of full vs empty urinary bladder on external cephalic version success: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: External cephalic version is a procedure used to turn a fetus from a breech position to a cephalic position before delivery. The success rate of the external cephalic version can be affected by various factors; however, the effect of bladder volume on the success rate of the external cephalic version remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of urinary bladder status (full or empty) on the success rate of the external cephalic version through a prospective randomized study. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized controlled trial conducted at a tertiary care obstetrical center. Overall, 70 women with a singleton breech presentation at term undergoing external cephalic version were randomly allocated into 2 groups: external cephalic version with an empty bladder and external cephalic version with a full bladder. The external cephalic version procedure was performed by experienced obstetricians under ultrasound guidance. The primary outcome was the success rate of the external cephalic version. RESULTS: The success rate of the external cephalic version was 67.56% (25/37) in the full bladder group and 54.54% (18/33) in the empty bladder group, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (P=.26). In addition, the relative risk of successful external cephalic version was 1.23 (95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.81), indicating no significant difference. CONCLUSION: This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that the presence of a full or empty urinary bladder does not significantly affect the success rate of the external cephalic version in women with singleton breech presentation at term. Our findings suggest that women undergoing an external cephalic version do not need to have a full bladder to improve the success rate of the procedure.

Rotación manual de la cabeza fetal en la distocia de posición transversa y oblicua posterior / Fetal cephalic manual rotation in dystocia of transverse position and oblique posterior

El objetivo que plantea este trabajo es reducir por medio de la rotación manual (RMC) del polo cefálico, el número de cesáreas causadas tanto por distocias de posición como por falta de encajamiento y evitar el riesgo de la rotación y extracción instrumental. Nuestra casuística está formada por 100 pacientes en las cuales se practicó la (RMC) en el segundo período del parto, en 59 multíparas y 41 primíparas; en 37 casos la posición fue transversa y en 63 oblicua posterior. Las indicaciones fueron dadas mayoritariamente por período expulsivo prolongado, abreviación del expulsivo, agotamiento materno, falta de encajamiento y sufrimiento fetal. El parto fue espontáneo en 57 casos: en 40 terminó por aplicaciones complementarias de fórceps con cabeza encajada en una variedad anterior, en su mayoría por sufrimiento fetal: hubo 3 fracasos, 2 occípito posteriores que no rotaron y hubo que rotarlas con el fórceps a occípito sacra y una cesárea por falta de encajamiento; los resultados fueron favorables en el 97 por ciento

Presentación podálica: versión externa a cefálica / Breech presentation: external and cephalic version

El parto en podálica está asociado a mayor morbimortalidad perinatal, por lo que la cesárea ha sido la vía de elección para el nacimiento de estos fetos. La versión externa a cefálica, cuestionada por sus riesgos durante muchos años, ha resurgido como un procedimiento obstétrico alternativo en el manejo de estos fetos, gracias a la tecnología actual. Se estudiaron 77 pacientes con gestaciones únicas, mayores de 37 semanas, en presentación podálica, con líquido amniótico normal, sin patología materno fetal. Se realizó la versión externa a cefálica bajo efecto tocolítico (fenoterol 10 µg ev) y posteriormente se les realizó evaluación ecográfica y monitorización electrónica. Se obtuvo éxito en 65 (84,4 porciento) casos, 5 pacientes fueron perdidas de seguimientos. Llegaron al parto en presentación cefálica 56 de 60 pacientes (93 porciento) y 48 tuvieron un parto vaginal en esa presentación. Se concluyó que la versión externa a cefálica es un procedimiento eficaz, que disminuye la tasa de cesárea por podálica sin modificar los resultados perinatales

Evaluación de la versión cefálica externa en el manejo de las distocias de presentación / Evaluation of external cephalic version in the management of presentation dystocia

En un trabajo prospectivo y controlado, realizamos versiones externas bajo tocólisis a un grupo de 45 pacientes con presentaciones podálicas y transversas entre las 36 y 40 semanas de gestación. Obtuvimos un 73 por ciento de éxito en el procedimiento con un 49 por ciento de cesáreas en el grupo de estudio comparado con un 87 por ciento en el grupo control. Los factores más importantes en el resultado fueron el tipo de presentación y la paridad. No observamos complicaciones maternas ni fetales significativas

Versiones externas en la maternidad del Hospital "Dr. Juan Noe Crevani" Arica, Chile / External cephalic versions in Dr. Juan Noe Crevani's Maternity Hospital, Arica, Chile

Se reporta la experiencia y el resultado de la realizacion de 417 versiones externas (VE) entre los anos 1981-1986 en el Hospital "Dr. Juan Noe Crevani" de Arica, Chile. La VE se la efectuo en primiparas y multiparas ambulatorias, sin antecedentes de operacion cesarea, placenta previa, malformaciones uterinas, rotura prematura de membrana e hipertension arterial. Las embarazadas fueron de mas de 31 semanas de gestacion y previo a la maniobra, se realizo un examen ecografico. La VE la realizo un solo medico y solo en 3% se utilizo una ayudante. El procedimiento se realizo 2 o 3 veces en algunas oportunidades y fue interrumpido cuando se requirieron mas de 2 intentos para poner al feto en posicion normal. 74.3% (n=310) del total de las VE realizadas fueron exitosas y el 25.7% (n=107) fueron fallidas. En 28 oportunidades se repitio la maniobra y en 20 de ellas se obtuvo exito; en 5 casos se practico un tecer intento, obteniendo 100% de exito. La mayor cantidad de VE favorables correspondieron a las multiparas (66.7%), siedo esta diferencia significativa. De las pacientes en que se logro la VE, 235 terminaron en parto, 30 en cesarea, lo que da un indice quirurgico de 17.54%, cifra mucho menor que la que se presenta cuando se relizan cesareas por presentacion podalica sin maniobra de VE

Valor de la version cefalica externa (V.C.E.) en presentacion podalica y embarazos a termino, bajo el empleo de tocoliticos: una alternativa / External cephalic version value in breech presentation under tocolysis: an alternative

Se reporta la experiencia obtenida con la utilizacion de la version cefalica externa (VCE) en 214 embarazadas de 37 o mas semanas, Rh+, sin cirugia uterina previa, feto unico en presentacion podalica diagnosticada por ultrasonografia. Se las dividio en dos grupos con VCE (N=105) y grupo control (N=109). De las 105 embarazadas del grupo con VCE, en 10 se produjo la version como resultado de la administracion de aceite de ricino (metodo de Escuder), y no fueron consideradas en el resto del estudio; de las 95 restantes, en 80 se logro la VCE con exito. Sesenta y una de ellas tuvieron parto, mientras que 19 fueron sometidas a cesarea. En 15 embarazadas se tuvo VCE fallida, 13 de ellas terminaron en cesarea y 2 en parto. Entre las indicaciones principales para la operacion cesarea en el grupo con VCE exitosa, se encontraron: 6 desproporciones cefalo pelvicas y 8 sufrimientos fetales agudos intraparto, de los cuales, 4 se produjeron por procedencia o procubito del cordon. En la asociacion VCE/paridad, se encontro una mayor incidencia de maniobras fallidas en miltiparas; y solo en una multipara no se logro realizar la VCE. En el grupo control hubo una incidencia de cesarea mayor que en el grupo con VCE (p<0001). La incidencia de neonatos deprimidos (Apgar<7) fue similar en ambos grupos tanto al 1 como al 5 minuto, de vida. La maniobra de la VCE realizada en la forma propuesta mostro un alto grado de efectividad, ya que, fue exitosa en 84, 2% de los intentos; dando como resultado 61/80 partos, mientras que en el gupo de VCE fallida solo hubieron 2115 ...