This is a randomized controlled trial in which nulliparous individuals with a term, singleton gestation who undergo a trial of labor with neuraxial anesthesia and have a fetus presenting with persistent occiput posterior or occiput transverse presentation (POP/OTP) confirmed by ultrasound at the initiation of the second stage of labor will be randomized to either prophylactic manual rotation or sham rotation. The study aims to evaluate whether prophylactic manual rotation reduces the incidence of operative delivery (a composite of cesarean and operative vaginal delivery), second stage of labor duration, and maternal and neonatal morbidity among nulliparous individuals with a fetus with POP/OTP at the initiation of the second stage of labor.~Individuals will be screened for eligibility upon admission to Labor and Delivery and approached for potential recruitment with informed consent obtained on enrollment. Once women achieve complete cervical dilation and within the first fifteen minutes of commencement of pushing, a bedside ultrasound will be performed to determine the fetal position. Those with POP/OTP will be randomized at that time point to either prophylactic manual rotation or sham rotation. The patient's primary obstetrician will be blinded to the randomization arm. The electronic health record will be reviewed and used to assess trial outcomes. The study will enroll 350 individuals, powered to detect a 15% reduction in operative delivery (instrumental vaginal delivery or cesarean section) with prophylactic manual rotation of POP/OTP, from a baseline risk of 50% without manual rotation to 35% with prophylactic rotation at initiation of the second stage of labor.
This is a randomized controlled trial to determine whether prophylactic manual rotation for fetuses identified to have persistent occiput posterior or occiput transverse presentation (POP/OTP) at the initiation of the second stage of labor in nulliparous individuals reduces rates of operative delivery, second stage of labor duration, and resultant adverse clinical outcomes compared to standard management of the second stage of labor.