Process by which a breech baby can sometimes be turned from buttocks or foot first to head first
External cephalic version (ECV ) is a process by which a breech baby can sometimes be turned from buttocks or foot first to head first. It is a manual procedure that is recommended by national guidelines for breech presentation of a pregnancy with a single baby, in order to enable vaginal delivery .[ 2] [ 3] It is usually performed late in pregnancy, that is, after 36 gestational weeks ,[ 4] preferably 37 weeks,[ 5] and can even be performed in the early stages of childbirth.[ 4]
ECV is endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as a mode to avoid the risks associated with a vaginal breech or cesarean delivery for singleton breech presentation.[ 2] [ 6]
ECV can be contrasted with "internal cephalic version", which involves a hand inserted through the cervix .[ 7]
^ Burton, John (1751). "An essay towards a complete new system of midwifry, theoretical and practical. Together with the descriptions,causes and methods of removing, or relieving the disorderspeculiar to pregnant ... women, and new-born infants" . J. Hodges. Retrieved 25 September 2018 .
^ a b Sharoni, L (March 2015). "Anesthesia and external cephalic version". Current Anesthesiology Reports . 5 : 91–99. doi :10.1007/s40140-014-0095-0 . S2CID 71800278 .
^ Shanahan, Meaghan M.; Gray, Caron J. (2020), "External Cephalic Version" , StatPearls , StatPearls Publishing, PMID 29494082 , retrieved 14 April 2020
^ a b "Breech baby at the end of pregnancy" (PDF) . www.rcog.org . July 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2018 .
^ Arnold, Kate C.; Flint, Caroline J. (2017). Obstetrics Essentials: A Question-Based Review . Oklahoma, USA: Springer. pp. 231–235. doi :10.1007/978-3-319-57675-6 . ISBN 978-3-319-57674-9 . S2CID 38547277 .
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^ Neely, M. R. (May 1959). "Combined internal cephalic version" . Ulster Medical Journal . 28 (1): 30–4. PMC 2384304 . PMID 13669146 .