The Effect of External Version on Antenatal Immunization by the Rh Factor

Abstract

Summary The present study has shown that the routine practise of antenatal manipulations such as external version is associated with a significant increase in the frequency of episodes of Rh immunization not only among Rh negative mothers who were already immunized before the present pregnancy commenced but also among those not previously immunized. The findings would seem to indicate that the disruption of the placental circulation is enhanced by such procedures and the ultimate risk involved in intensifying the haemolytic process ‘in utero’ can therefore not be ignored.

Fetomaternal Bleeding During Attempts at External Version

“…Except for fetomaternal bleeds, no complications were observed. Vos (1967) found that 9 out of 113 rhesus negative mothers (8 per cent) in whom external version had been attempted developed rhesus antibodies, as against 33 out of 1007 (3 per cent) who had no external versions ; fetomaternal bleeds, as such, were not investigated in this study.…”