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Updated: Apr 7, 2026

External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
[Obstetrical prognosis of breech presentation admitted in advanced first stage of labour]
M Faivre1, N Mottet1, A Bourtembourg1
1Pôle mère-femme, CHU Jean-Minjoz, 3, boulevard Fleming, 25000 Besançon, France.
Aim:
Fear of dystocia during breech delivery brings obstetrical teams to choose elective caesarean sections. However, some patients with breech presentations will be in labour before the date scheduled and caesarean delivery during labour increases maternal morbidity. Therefore, this situation raises the question about the relevance of labour trial for breech presentations admitted in labour. Our study aimed to determine the obstetrical prognosis of breech presentations on admission in the labour ward following their degree of cervical dilation.
Materials And Methods:
We conducted an observational retrospective study on 213 single breech presentations at ≥37 gestational weeks that delivered at our level 3 labour ward between1st January 2007 and 30th July 2013. Maternal, obstetrical and neonatal factors were analyzed.
Results:
The total caesarean rate during labour was 23.4% and significantly less important (P<0.05) in patients with cervical dilation ≥5cm on admission (14% vs. 27%). Apgar scores, cordonal arterial pH and lactates, rate of transfer to intensive care were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusion:
In our study, any patient with a breech presentation at an advanced stage of labour on admission is of very good prognosis, although statistical power is insufficient.
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