Written By: IJCP Editorial Team

Published On: 18 Feb, 2023 11:34 AM | Updated On: 20 May, 2024 1:40 PM

Successful Vaginal Delivery following External Cephalic Version in a Woman with a Large Partial Uterine Septum

A recent report describes a case of an 18-year-old nulligravida who initially presented with a complaint of 2 years of infertility and a known uterine septum. She revealed significant gynecological history for menarche at the age of 13, regular monthly menses, and a history of treated chlamydia. She also documented a history of congenital pulmonary stenosis treated with two angioplasties and hypertension managed with losartan. 

Her most recent echocardiogram revealed an ejection fraction of 60-65% and no significant valvular disease.

A pelvic exam revealed an anteverted, 8-week size uterus. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a uterus measuring depth with normal appearing ovaries. 

3D transvaginal ultrasound revealed the uterine septum with a 2 cm deep indentation with an angle of 65°. A hysterosalpingogram revealed two uterine cornua with normal appearing and patent fallopian tubes. Her Laboratory studies were normal.

She reported her first pregnancy spontaneously two months after the hysterosalpingogram. Part of the uterine septum was visible on an 18-week obstetrical ultrasound performed in this first pregnancy. During her first pregnancy, she received the diagnosis of preeclampsia with severe features at 37 weeks of gestation. 

An ECV, followed by labor induction, resulted in an uncomplicated vaginal delivery.

The patient then documented her second pregnancy spontaneously four months after her first delivery. She then presented as a 20-year-old gravida 2 para 1001 at 37 weeks and six days of gestational age with confirmed breech presentation and a posterior placenta. The estimated fetal weight by ultrasound came as 3003 grams, and the maximum vertical amniotic fluid pocket was 5.7 cm. 

At 38 weeks and 0 days, the patient underwent ECV, which was successful on the second attempt, and the patient received anti-D immune globulin after the procedure.

After the ECV, the patient received a discharge and was scheduled to return for induction of labor at 39 weeks 0 days. On returning for labor induction, she again displayed a breech position by ultrasound. So she again underwent an epidural and ECV. During labor, the patient was diagnosed with preeclampsia with severe blood pressure and started on magnesium sulfate for seizure prophylaxis.

She delivered a singleton male in cephalic position vaginally at 39 weeks two days of gestation, weighing 3510 grams with Apgar scores of 8 at 1 minute and nine at 5 minutes. 

After the fetus and placenta were delivered, the patient displayed retained membranes that did not deliver with gentle traction. Manual uterine exploration disclosed membranes firmly adhered in the right cornu, which was presumed to have contracted around the membranes holding them in place. The membranes were expelled manually with traction. Manual uterine exploration afterward showed a thick uterine septum confirming the previous 3D TVUS and hysterosalpingogram findings. 

The patient displayed an uncomplicated postpartum course and received another dose of anti-D immune globin on postpartum day two since the infant was Rh-positive. The mother and infant both received a discharge on postpartum day 2.

Park KE, et al. Successful Vaginal Delivery after External Cephalic Version in a Woman with a Large Partial Uterine Septum. Case Reports in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2021; 2021. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9912271