Outcome of labour after successful external cephalic version at term complicated by isolated transient fetal bradycardia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate factors associated with the occurrence of transient fetal bradycardia after external cephalic version, and labour outcome after isolated transient fetal bradycardia.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Teaching hospital with a policy of offering external cephalic version for breech presentation at or beyond 36 weeks of gestation.


METHODS
Four hundred and twenty-nine external cephalic versions performed over a 5-year period.


METHODS
Between group differences were compared with the unpaired t test or the chi2 test. Logistic regression analysis was performed to exclude confounding effects.


METHODS
Incidence of caesarean section for fetal distress.


RESULTS
Transient fetal bradycardia occurred in 8.4% of external cephalic versions, and was associated with a successful version (OR 16.45, P < 0.001), a difficult procedure (OR 3.70, P = 0.001), and nulliparity (OR 2.83, P = 0.007). The incidence of intrapartum caesarean section for fetal distress was 16.7% in pregnancies with transient fetal bradycardia, compared with 7.9% in those without (OR 2.34, 95% CI 0.81, 6.71).


CONCLUSIONS
Transient fetal bradycardia after external cephalic version may be associated with a higher risk of intrapartum caesarean section for fetal distress.
Lau
T K
TK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin.
Lo
K W
KW
Leung
T Y
TY
Fok
W Y
WY
Rogers
M S
MS
D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology*; D001946:Breech Presentation; D002585:Cesarean Section; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014710:Version, Fetal