Evaluation of the Success Rate Following Amnioinfusion in Pregnant Women Undergoing External Cephalic Version after Initial Failure

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the success rate following amnioinfusion in pregnant women undergoing external cephalic version (ECV) after initial failure. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 17 consecutive pregnant women from October 2013 to May 2015. ECV was performed with amnioinfusion after initial failure. The success rates of ECV and vaginal delivery, including pregnancy outcomes, were analyzed. RESULTS: ECV was performed at an average of 37.3±0.6 weeks of gestational age. Eight of seventeen patients were nulliparous. The estimated fetal weight was 2,688±279 g, and the amniotic fluid index was 6.4±2.6 cm. The overall success rate of ECV was 70.6% (12/17), and the success rates in nulliparous and multiparous women were 75.0% (6/8) and 66.7% (6/9), respectively. The rate of emergent cesarean section within 24 hours was 11.8% (2/17). Excluding one women who were lost to follow-up, the rate of normal vaginal delivery was 81.8% (9/11) among the women who had successful ECV. We did not observe any complications such as uterine rupture, placental abruption, or intrauterine fetal death. CONCLUSION: Although ECV with amnioinfusion after initial failure might help increase the success rate of ECV, it needs to be further evaluated in larger studies.