Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 30, 2026
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
Mode of delivery after successful external cephalic version: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Marcella de Hundt1, Joost Velzel, Christianne J de Groot
1Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VU Medical Center and Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and the Robinson Institute, School of Paediatrics and Reproductive Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Objective:
To assess the mode of delivery in women after a successful external cephalic version by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Data Sources:
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library for studies reporting on the mode of delivery in women after successful external cephalic version at term and women with a spontaneous cephalic-presenting fetus.
Methods Of Study Selection:
Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed study quality. The association between mode of delivery and successful external cephalic version was expressed as a common odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI).
Tabulation, Integration, And Results:
We identified three cohort studies and eight case-control studies, reporting on 46,641 women. The average cesarean delivery rate for women with a successful external cephalic version was 21%. Women after successful external cephalic version were at increased risk for cesarean delivery for dystocia (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.0), cesarean delivery for fetal distress (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-2.9), and instrumental vaginal delivery (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7).
Level Of Evidence:
Women who have had a successful external cephalic version for breech presentation are at increased risk for cesarean delivery and instrumental vaginal delivery as compared with women with a spontaneous cephalic presentation. Nevertheless, with a number needed to treat of three, external cephalic version still remains a very efficient procedure to prevent a cesarean delivery.
