FETOMATERNAL HEMORRHAGE AFTER EXTERNAL CEPHALIC VERSION AT TERM

The incidence of fetomaternal haemorrhage after external cephalic vers ion was 1.8% in 167 patients. The occurrence of this complication was not found to be associated with difficult or unsuccessful version, or with any adverse perinatal outcome. We conclude that routine assessmen t of fetomaternal haemorrhage after external version is not necessary, except in rhesus negative women to detect the 2% in whom the routine dose of 500 iu (100 mu g) of anti-D immunoglobulin is inadequate.