Retrospective Analysis of Pregnancy Outcomes Following External Cephalic Version for Breech Presentation

Figures & data

Figure 1 The fetal spine is on the right side of the abdomen. The practitioner used their right hand to hold the fetal head and their left hand to hold the fetal buttocks. The practitioner applied gentle pressure, pushing the fetal head toward the pubic symphysis in a clockwise forward roll motion with the right hand, while simultaneously guiding the fetal buttocks clockwise toward the uterine fundus with the left hand.

Figure 2 The fetal spine is on the left side of the abdomen. The practitioner held the fetal head in their left hand and the fetal buttocks in their right hand. The practitioner applied gentle pressure, pushing the fetal head toward the pubic symphysis in a counterclockwise forward roll motion with the left hand, while simultaneously guiding the fetal buttocks counterclockwise toward the uterine fundus with the right hand.

Table 1 Comparison of General Conditions of Puerperae Between the ECV Group and Control Group

Variables	ECV Group (n=42)	Control Group (n=116)
Age (year)	−0.0111 (0.017)	−0.00807 (0.008)
Gravida (times)	−0.876 (0.639)	0.144 (0.208)
Parity (times)	0.323 (1.259)	0.514 (0.745)
Delivery gestational age (w)	0.0447 (0.068)	−0.0256 (0.028)
Amniotic fluid index (cm)	−0.0976 (0.123)	−0.0609 (0.046)
BMI (kg/m^2)	−0.0165 (0.030)	−0.0135 (0.020)
Newborn birth weight	0.0398 (0.182)	0.0101 (0.052)
Cord around neck,1–2 loops (%)	−0.619 (1.308)	−0.288 (0.224)

Note: Standard errors in parentheses (r² is a negative number, which is statistically meaningless).

Table 2 Pregnancy Outcome and Pregnancy Complications Between the ECV Group and Control Group

Pregnancy Outcome	ECV Group (n=42)	Control Group (n=116)	χ^2	P
Cesarean delivery [n, (%)]	18 (42.9)	100 (86.2)	30.65^a	< 0.001
Non-cephalic delivery [n, (%)]	14 (33.3)	100 (86.2)	42.90^a	< 0.001
Apgar score at 5 min < 7 (%)	1 (2.4)	3 (2.6)	< 0.001^a	0.999
Premature rupture of membrane [n, (%)]	3 (7.1)	20 (17.2)	2.53^a	0.11
Cord prolapse [n, (%)]	1 (0.9)	0 (0)	-b	0.27
Acute fetal distress [n, (%)]	2 (4.8)	2 (1.7)	0.25	0.62

Note: ^aFisher’s exact test; χ², Chi-squared test.