Perinatal Outcome of Baby Delivered Vaginally After Successful External Cephalic Version

Abstract

Objective: To assess the proportion of unfavorable birth-related events occurring after a successful fetal repositioning maneuver near expected delivery in pregnant individuals.
Study Design: Descriptive analytical evaluation study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Obstetrics and Women's Health Unit at Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, spanning from January through September of 2022.
Methods: The research encompassed 197 expectant participants who underwent effective manual fetal rotation to cephalic alignment. Postpartum evaluation involved identifying harmful neonatal indicators such as diminished Apgar performance—categorized as a score less than five at five minutes after birth (Annex II)—alongside the requirement for neonatal critical care admission. Criteria for neonatal intensive unit involvement included compromised breathing needing mechanical assistance, convulsive episodes, severe oxygen-deprivation-related
encephalopathy, abnormal heart rhythms, or additional disorders needing specialized pediatric attention, including significant jaundice requiring blood-exchange treatment.
Results: Participants’ ages ranged from 18 to 40 years, with an average age of 28.629±2.53 years, average pregnancy duration at 38.421±0.98 weeks, and mean childbirth count of 1.416±1.23. Reduced Apgar levels occurred in 5.1% of subjects, while critical newborn unit referral was necessary in 2.5%.
Conclusion: To summarize, executing a cephalic repositioning procedure at full term does not correlate with heightened newborn health complications or death risk.