EXTERNAL CEPHALIC VERSION AFTER PREVIOUS CESAREAN-SECTION - A SERIES OF 38 CASES

Objective: To determine if external cephalic version (ECV) is a reason able alternative to repeat cesarean section in case of breech presenta tion. Study design: Retrospective study of 38 women with one previous cesarean section and a breech presentation after 36 weeks of gestation al age who have had at least one experience of ECV. Statistics used th e Fisher's test with significance when P<0.05. Results: Version attemp ts were successful in 25 of the 38 women (65.8%). Seventy-six percent of the successful version women went on to have vaginal birth after ce sarean section. A total of 19 successful vaginal deliveries occurred ( 50%). Success rate of ECV was lowered when breech was the indication o f the previous cesarean section. The vaginal delivery rate was increas ed after successful ECV in patients previously vaginally delivered, bu t this difference did not reached significance (P=0.057). No maternal or neonatal complications occurred. Conclusion: ECV is acceptable and effective in women with a prior low transverse uterine scar, when safe ty criteria are observed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd All ri ghts reserved.