Manual rotation to reduce caesarean delivery in persistent occiput posterior or transverse position.

OBJECTIVE: To examine mode of delivery and perinatal outcomes in women with occiput posterior (OP) or transverse (OT) position in the second stage of labour with a trial of manual rotation compared to expectant management.

METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was designed to examine mode of delivery and perinatal morbidity in women who underwent a trial of manual rotation (n = 731) compared to expectant management (n = 2527) during the second stage of labour with the fetus in OP/OT position. Chi-square test was used to compare categorical outcomes and multivariable logistic regression models were used to control for potential confounders.

RESULTS: Compared to expectant management, women with manual rotation were less likely to have: caesarean delivery (CD) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09-0.16], severe perineal laceration [aOR 0.64; (0.47-0.88)], postpartum haemorrhage [aOR 0.75; (0.62-0.98)], and chorioamnionitis [aOR 0.68; (0.50-0.92)]. The number of rotations attempted to avert one CD was 4. In contrast, women who had a trial of rotation had an increased risk of cervical laceration [aOR 2.46; (1.1-5.4)].

CONCLUSIONS: Compared with expectant management, a trial of manual rotation with persistent fetal OP/OT position is associated with a reduction in CD and adverse maternal outcomes.