External cephalic version: a clinical experience

External cephalic version

“…Conversely, Kirkine and Ylostalo (46) claimed that placentas located on the anterior wall decrease the ability to complete a version successfully. Other researchers have found little evidence supporting the notion that placental position significantly influences the version (6, 33, 35).…”

“…External cephalic version has been the focus of several studies. Published reports of success rates for ECV over a 10‐year period are summarized in Table 2 (5, 6, 28–41). Successful versions in these studies vary from 25% to 83%.…”

“…Critics of early ECV, however, point to the risks of an iatrogenic preterm delivery, as well as to an increased need to repeat the procedure because the fetus is more likely to return to the breech position the earlier in gestation the ECV is performed. Also, before 36 weeks of gestation, spontaneous version rates exceed 20% (19, 33, 36, 38). Versions before this time may be unnecessary because the fetus may assume a cephalic presentation spontaneously.…”

“…The issue of tocolytic use for ECV continues to be debated. Those who believe in its use feel that the tocolytics relax the uterus, making the procedure safer, easier, and more likely to be completed successfully (33). Yet, few controlled studies have adequately examined the use of tocolytics in version.…”

The Webster Technique: A chiropractic technique with obstetric implications

“…31 Reports of the rates of spontaneous version have varied from 0% to 33%, with an average of approximately 9%. [32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44] The number of cesarean sections performed due to breech presentation and dystocia has increased, whereas those attributable to fetal distress have not changed significantly, and elective repeat cesarean delivery rates have declined. 14 Anecdotal reports [45][46][47][48][49] indicate that the Webster Technique, a chiropractic technique designed to relieve the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint, has been successful in converting breech presentations to cephalic presentation.…”