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Updated: Mar 15, 2026
External Cephalic Version: Is it an Effective and Safe Procedure?
Published on: June 6, 2020
The efficacy and safety of external cephalic version after a previous caesarean delivery
Yishay Weill1,2, Raphael N Pollack3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Background:
External cephalic version (ECV) in the presence of a uterine scar is still considered a relative contraindication despite encouraging studies of the efficacy and safety of this procedure. We present our experience with this patient population, which is the largest cohort published to date.
Aims:
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ECV in the setting of a prior caesarean delivery.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 158 patients with a fetus presenting as breech, who had an unscarred uterus, had an ECV performed. Similarly, 158 patients with a fetus presenting as breech, and who had undergone a prior caesarean delivery also underwent an ECV. Outcomes were compared.
Results:
ECV was successfully performed in 136/158 (86.1%) patients in the control group. Of these patients, 6/136 (4.4%) delivered by caesarean delivery. In the study group, 117/158 (74.1%) patients had a successful ECV performed. Of these patients, 12/117 (10.3%) delivered by caesarean delivery. There were no significant complications in either of the groups.
Conclusions:
ECV may be successfully performed in patients with a previous caesarean delivery. It is associated with a high success rate, and is not associated with an increase in complications.
