Podalic version is a medical term used to describe a procedure in which a baby is turned from a breech position inside the womb. The word is pronounced as "po-dal-ik vur-zhun" and is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /pɒˈdælɪk ˈvɜːʒən/. The first part, "podalic," derives from the Greek word "pod," meaning "foot," and "version" comes from the Latin word "vertere," meaning "to turn." This terminology enables medical professionals around the world to communicate effectively and avoid misunderstandings.
Podalic version is a medical term used to describe a specific technique employed during childbirth, particularly when the fetus is in an abnormal or unfavorable position within the womb. During a podalic version, also known as podalic extraction or the obstetric maneuver of version, the medical practitioner rotates the fetus within the uterus so that the presenting part is the leg or the foot, rather than the head or buttocks.
This procedure is usually performed when a vaginal delivery in the usual head-first position (cephalic presentation) is not feasible or safe for both the baby and the mother. Some situations that may warrant a podalic version include breech presentation, transverse presentation, or shoulder dystocia. By turning the fetus and extracting it in a bottom-first position, podalic version allows for a safe vaginal delivery.
The podalic version is often a planned procedure that is carefully undertaken by a skilled healthcare professional, such as an obstetrician or midwife, in a controlled clinical setting. It may be opted for when other methods to reposition the fetus, such as external cephalic version (ECV), have failed or are contraindicated. As it is an invasive maneuver, careful monitoring of both the mother and the baby is required throughout the process to ensure their well-being.
• Turning the fetus during childbirth so as to bring it down with the feet presenting.
• Seizure of the foot of the fetus and turning so that this part presents.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "podalic" derives from the Greek term "pod" meaning "foot", combined with the suffix "-alic" which indicates a relationship or association. The term "version" comes from the Latin word "versio" meaning "a turning or changing". In obstetrics, the term "podalic version" refers to a medical technique in which a breech (feet-first) presentation of a fetus is changed to a normal head-first presentation by manipulating the baby's position. Hence, the etymology of "podalic version" describes a procedure of turning the fetus using the feet.