About Pregnancy & Childbirth: Anesthesia Might Help with External Versions for Breech Babies

About Pregnancy & Childbirth Pregnancy & Childbirth

Anesthesia Might Help with External Versions for Breech Babies Apr 30th 2013, 08:07 A new study shows that using regional anesthesia, like an epidural or a spinal, may be cost effective for breech babies. The heart of the study says that if you use the anesthesia for an external cephalic version (ECV), manually turning a breech baby from the outside, it is more comfortable for mom and more likely to work. Then you lower the cesarean rate and save the risks associated with cesarean birth as well as money for at least some of these mothers and babies. The study was really aimed at discussing the costs alone, citing that some providers say that the cost increase is not justifiable. Though there is more to consider than simply the cost.  There is also the effectiveness of the procedure (One small study shows it is much more effective with anesthesia.) as well as mom's satisfaction, which is also higher with anesthesia. So, doctors should not consider costs when talking about doing the ECV procedure. Complication rates were very low for both groups (with and without anesthesia), but overall vaginal birth is safer and more cost effective. Were you offered an epidural or other form of anesthesia when you had an external version?  Share the details in the comments. Related: 5 Ways to Turn a Breech Baby Sources: Birnbach, David J. M. D., Matut, Jay M. D., Stein, Deborah J. M. D., Campagnuolo, Joanne D. O., Drimbarean, Calin M. D., Grunebaum, Amos M. D., . . . Thys, Daniel M. M. D. (2001). The Effect of Intrathecal Analgesia on the Success of External Cephalic Version. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 93(2), 410-413. Carvalho, Brendan MBBCh Frca, Tan, Jonathan M. M. D. M. P. H., Macario, Alex M. D. M. B. A., El-Sayed, Yasser Y. M. D., & Sultan, Pervez MBChB Frca. A Cost Analysis of Neuraxial Anesthesia to Facilitate External Cephalic Version for Breech Fetal Presentation. Anesthesia & Analgesia. LifeART (and/or) MediClip image copyright (appropriate year) Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.- Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved. Anesthesia Might Help with External Versions for Breech Babies originally appeared on About.com Pregnancy & Childbirth on Tuesday, April 30th, 2013 at 08:07:14. Permalink | Comment | Email this

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