Labor induction just after external cephalic version with epidural analgesia at term

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the benefits of external cephalic version (ECV) with epidural analgesia at term and labor induction just after the procedure. Materials and methods: This is a retrospective observational study with patients who did not want trying a breech vaginal delivery and decided trying an ECV with epidural analgesia at term and wanted labor induction or cesarean section after the procedure. We present the results of 40 ECV with epidural analgesia at term and labor induction or cesarean section just after the ECV. Results: ECV succeeded in 26 out of 40 (65%) patients. Among the 26 successful ECV, 6 delivered by cesarean (23.1%). 20 patients delivered vaginally (76.9%; 50% of all patients). Conclusion: Considering that a high number of cesarean deliveries can be avoided, induction of labor after ECV with epidural analgesia at term can be considered after being discussed in selected patient.

Keywords

• Breech presentation
• Epidural analgesia
• External cephalic version
• Induced labor