Neuraxial Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version and the Risk of Emergent Cesarean Delivery: A…

Cohort studyJournal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada : JOGC = Journal d'obstetrique et gynecologie du Canada : JOGC· Jun 2026

Neuraxial Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version and the Risk of Emergent Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Sylvie Bowden, Taylor Pigott, Karen Attia … Leyla Baghirzada

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Obstetric AnesthesiaCohort studyClinical practiceQ2IF 1.2

Neuraxial anesthesia during external cephalic version linked to higher odds of emergency cesarean.

Neuraxial Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version and the Risk of Emergent Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Sylvie Bowden … Leyla Baghirzada

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada · Jun 2026

Purpose

Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether neuraxial anesthesia (neuraxial anesthesia) increases emergency cesarean delivery risk and impacts external cephalic version success and delivery mode.

Methods

Received either neuraxial anesthesia (spinal, epidural, or combined spinal-epidural) or no neuraxial anesthesia.

n = 21 cases

Results

neuraxial anesthesia raised emergency cesarean odds nearly 12-fold

aOR 11.60 (95% CI 3.25 to 41.10)

CI excludes the null - significant

More results

Neuraxial anesthesia was used in 96 (33.4%) procedures.

Emergency cesarean delivery occurred in 21 cases, with 18 (85.7%) after neuraxial anesthesia.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Neuraxial anesthesia during external cephalic version was strongly associated with increased emergency cesarean delivery risk without improving external cephalic version success.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Routine use should be reconsidered in favour of a more selective approach.

Neuraxial Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version and the Risk of Emergent Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Neuraxial Anesthesia for External Cephalic Version and the Risk of Emergent Cesarean Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

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