A Trial Comparing Combined Spinal- Epidural Dosing Strategies for External Cephalic Version

Summary

We plan to conduct a prospective, single blinded, randomized clinical trial to assess the impact of combined spinal-epidural dosing on the success rate of, and patient satisfaction during, external version for breech fetal position and the incidence of vaginal vs. Cesarean delivery. The research aim of this project is to determine the ideal neuraxial dosing strategy to maximize success of external cephalic version (ECV). The research questions, does a combined spinal-epidural (CSE) of a higher dose result in greater success in converting a breech presentation to vertex during external cephalic version (ECV). The hypotheses of this project is that CSE at higher dose will result in greater ECV success than analgesic dosing. The research significance:Increasing the success and comfort of ECV for fetal malpresentation may help decrease the cesarean section rate.

Timeline

Start

2011-05

Primary completion

2016-10

Completion

2017-01

Publications

• Background Hofmeyr GJ. Interventions to help external cephalic version for breech presentation at term. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(2):CD000184. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000184.
• Background Fortunato SJ, Mercer LJ, Guzick DS. External cephalic version with tocolysis: factors associated with success. Obstet Gynecol. 1988 Jul;72(1):59-62.
• Background Zhang J, Bowes WA Jr, Fortney JA. Efficacy of external cephalic version: a review. Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Aug;82(2):306-12.
• Background ACOG practice patterns. External cephalic version. Number 4, July 1997. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1997 Oct;59(1):73-80. No abstract available.
• Background Carlan SJ, Dent JM, Huckaby T, Whittington EC, Shaefer D. The effect of epidural anesthesia on safety and success of external cephalic version at term. Anesth Analg. 1994 Sep;79(3):525-8. doi: 10.1213/00000539-199409000-00021.
• Background Birnbach DJ, Matut J, Stein DJ, Campagnuolo J, Drimbarean C, Grunebaum A, Kuroda MM, Thys DM. The effect of intrathecal analgesia on the success of external cephalic version. Anesth Analg. 2001 Aug;93(2):410-3, 4th contents page. doi: 10.1097/00000539-200108000-00035.
• Background Dugoff L, Stamm CA, Jones OW 3rd, Mohling SI, Hawkins JL. The effect of spinal anesthesia on the success rate of external cephalic version: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Mar;93(3):345-9. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(98)00456-6.
• Background Schorr SJ, Speights SE, Ross EL, Bofill JA, Rust OA, Norman PF, Morrison JC. A randomized trial of epidural anesthesia to improve external cephalic version success. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1997 Nov;177(5):1133-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9378(97)70029-2.
• Background Mancuso KM, Yancey MK, Murphy JA, Markenson GR. Epidural analgesia for cephalic version: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2000 May;95(5):648-51. doi: 10.1016/s0029-7844(99)00611-0.
• Background Lavoie A, Guay J. Anesthetic dose neuraxial blockade increases the success rate of external fetal version: a meta-analysis. Can J Anaesth. 2010 May;57(5):408-14. doi: 10.1007/s12630-010-9278-4. Epub 2010 Feb 3.
• Background Sullivan JT, Grobman WA, Bauchat JR, Scavone BM, Grouper S, McCarthy RJ, Wong CA. A randomized controlled trial of the effect of combined spinal-epidural analgesia on the success of external cephalic version for breech presentation. Int J Obstet Anesth. 2009 Oct;18(4):328-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ijoa.2009.02.006. Epub 2009 Aug 13.

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