Critical remarks on external cephalic version under tocolysis. Report on a case of antepartum fetal death

SALING and MULLER-HOLVE recently proposed an improved method of external cephalic version brought about a renewed interest in this obstetric procedure. In spite of the undisputed advantages in individual cases we posed the following questions: 1. The extent of the decreased cesaerean section rate 2. The fetal risk We estimate a decrease of cesarean sections by about 1.5% under the assumption that a breech presentation in primiparae is an indication of cesarean section and that 70% of the version attempts would be successful. The estimate includes some cases of multi-parae breech presentations which would have been operated without external version. The resulting decrease of the cesarean section rate is generally not very important and has a greater impact only in individual cases. We have some misgivings about the fetal risk. We report here on a case of intrauterine fetal death after failed external version. A 28 year-old primiparae without known pregnancy complications was admitted with a breech presentation in the 37th week of gestation. The biparietal diameter of the fetal head was appropriate and the placenta was posterior. Cardiotocogram before and after the unsuccessful version were in part misinterpreted. Seven hours after the version the fetal death was confirmed. Histological examination of the placenta showed a severe dissociated maturation disturbance in addition to a 10 X 8 cm large abruptio which had not been noted clinically. A prediabetes was suspected. The fetus itself showed no anomalies. This was interpreted as a severely placentogenically prestressed infant and prediabetes. The extent of the placental disturbance was unknown and had not been appreciated from the ultrasound examination. The placenta had acute infarcts and a circumscript abruption. The CTG was misinterpreted in part. In another case of version the postoperative cardiotocogram showed pathologic patterns. The birth occurred three weeks later without problems with a well child and an umbilical artery pH of 7.31...