MODE OF DELIVERY FOLLOWING EXTERNAL CEPHALIC VERSION AND INDUCTION OFLABOR AT TERM

External cephalic version should be followed by fetal and maternal sur veillance until delivery. To shorten this period of surveillance, a pr otocol of version at term, followed by immediate induction of labor, w as adopted. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of this protocol on the subsequent mode of delivery. Two hundred and nin ety-one singleton breech pregnancies were included in this study. Of t hese, 74 cases underwent version, 75% of which were successful. Succes s of version compared to failed version was associated with statistica lly significant (p <0.001) lower rate of cesarean sections (9% and 67% , respectively). The overall rate of abdominal deliveries in the versi on group (74 cases) was statistically significantly lower compared wit h two other groups: one composed of breech pregnancies that did not un dergo versions, but would have been qualified for it, had they been re ferred on time (121 cases), and the other (96 cases) that did not have versions done because of contraindications to its performance (cesare an rates, 23%, 54%, and 79%, respectively; p <0.001). It may be conclu ded that a policy of external cephalic version at term is effective in lowering the incidence of cesarean deliveries, and the added interven tion of induction of labor does not negate this effect.