Vaginal Delivery After External Cephalic Version in Patients With a Previous Cesarean Delivery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the rate of vaginal delivery after successful external cephalic version for breech presentation in women with compared with without a previous cesarean birth.

DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies comparing the mode of delivery after successful external cephalic version in women with and without a previous cesarean birth.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: Two reviewers independently identified studies, extracted data, and evaluated study quality. The rate of vaginal delivery after successful external cephalic version in women with and without a previous cesarean birth was compared, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were estimated.

TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND

RESULTS

Six cohort studies and two case-control studies, reporting on 14,515 women were identified. The median point prevalence of a successful external cephalic version was 74% (interquartile range 63-81%) in women with a previous cesarean birth compared with 69% (interquartile range 64-83%) in women without a previous cesarean birth. The overall success rate of external cephalic version in women with a previous cesarean birth was similar compared with women without a previous cesarean birth (pooled OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.61-1.15). The median point prevalence of a vaginal delivery was 75% (interquartile range 61-84%) in women with a previous cesarean birth compared with 92% (interquartile range 85-95%) in women without a previous cesarean birth after a successful external cephalic version. The overall success rate of a vaginal delivery in women with a previous cesarean birth was less compared with women without a previous cesarean birth (pooled OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14-0.50). A planned subgroup analysis on studies that included only multiparous women in the control group (parity one or greater) noted the overall success rate of external cephalic version in women with a previous cesarean birth 76% (853/1,123) was lower compared with multiparous women without a previous cesarean birth 84% (9,911/11,855) (pooled OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.54-0.89, I 37%). The overall success rate of a vaginal delivery in women with a previous cesarean birth 83% (666/806) was less compared with women without a previous cesarean birth 97% (9,449/9,746) (pooled OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.12-0.39, I 73%).

CONCLUSION

Women with previous cesarean birth have similar rates of successful external cephalic version when compared with women without a cesarean birth. Although the rate of vaginal delivery is lower, the majority of patients have a successful vaginal birth after cesarean.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO, CRD42020160145.