Análisis de los factores que influyen en la aparición de efectos adversos en la versión cefálica externa

Objectives

To identify the association between the adverse effects of the external cephalic version (ECV) and several variables related to the technique.

Material and method

We performed a prospective study in 180 pregnant women who delivered through the ECV. We analyzed fetal and maternal adverse effects and their association with the final result of the version, the experience of the obstetrician, the time used in the maneuver, the number of attempts performed in the same session, and the drug used as a uterine relaxant.

Results

The ECV was successfully performed in 32.6% of primiparas and 79.19% of multiparas. The overall rate of adverse effects was 28.33%, and was higher in versions that failed, those with a greater number of failed attempts, those with longer duration and those in which ritodrine was used as a uterine relaxant.

Conclusions

The factors increasing the probability of success and reducing the rate of adverse effects in ECV are a single attempt at the maneuver, total duration of the maneuver of less than 5 minutes, and use of salbutamol as a uterine relaxant.