scholarly journals Lateral episiotomy versus no episiotomy to reduce obstetric anal sphincter injury in vacuum-assisted delivery in nulliparous women: study protocol on a randomised controlled trial

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. e025050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Bergendahl ◽  
Victoria Ankarcrona ◽  
Åsa Leijonhufvud ◽  
Susanne Hesselman ◽  
Sofie Karlström ◽  
...  

IntroductionObstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) occurs in 5%–7% of normal deliveries and increases with vacuum extraction (VE) to 12%–14% in nulliparous women in Sweden. Lateral/mediolateral episiotomy may reduce the prevalence of OASIS at VE in nulliparous women. The current use of episiotomy is restrictive. The protective effect and consequences are uncertain. This trial will investigate if lateral episiotomy can reduce the prevalence of OASIS and assess short-term and long-term effects.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre randomised controlled trial of lateral episiotomy versus no episiotomy in nulliparous women with a singleton, live fetus, after gestational week 34+0 with indication for VE. A lateral episiotomy of 4 cm is cut at crowning, 1–3 cm from the midline, at a 60° angle. The primary outcome is OASIS by clinical diagnosis analysed according to intention to treat. To demonstrate a 50% reduction in OASIS prevalence (from 12.4% to 6.2%), 710 women will be randomised at a 1:1 ratio. Secondary outcomes are pain, blood loss, other perineal injuries, perineal complications, Apgar score, cord pH and neonatal complications. Web-based questionnaires at baseline, 2 months, 1 and 5 years will be used to assess pain, incontinence, prolapse, sexual function, quality of life and childbirth experience. A subset of women will receive follow-up by pelvic floor sonography and pelvic examination. Mode of delivery and recurrence of OASIS/episiotomy in subsequent pregnancies will be assessed at 5 and 10 years using register data.Ethics and disseminationThe trial is open for enrolment. The trial has received ethical approval from the Regional Ethical Review Board of Stockholm and full funding from the Swedish Research Council. Women are interested in participation. The predominant restrictive view on episiotomy may limit recruitment. Results are of global interest and will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at international congresses.Trial registration numberNCT02643108; Pre-results.

2006 ◽  
Vol 113 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abimbola Williams ◽  
Elisabeth J Adams ◽  
Douglas G Tincello ◽  
Zarko Alfirevic ◽  
Stephen A Walkinshaw ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivka Djaković ◽  
Emina Ejubović ◽  
Ivan Bolanča ◽  
Marina Markuš Sandrić ◽  
Dino Bečić ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVES: Obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) includes the third and fourth degree of perineal injury. The risk for OASIS is about 1% of all vaginal deliveries. If not recognised and treated properly, obstetric anal sphincter injury can have serious consequences for reproductive age woman.MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have retrospectively gathered and analysed data on obstetric anal sphincter injury in a four-year period at our department. The control group in this study included vaginal deliveries in 2012.RESULTS: We recorded 0.34% third and fourth degree of perineal injury in all vaginal deliveries, and 87.9% of those patients were primiparae. Episiotomy was performed in 57.6% of all women with obstetric anal sphincter injury. In 30.3% of cases, newborns were large for gestational age. Gestational diabetes was found in 9.1% of OASIS cases, occipitoposterior position was found in 9.1% of cases. Induced labour took place in 39.4%, and oxytocin infusion was applied in 60.6% of OASIS cases. Vacuum extraction was performed in 12.1% of deliveries with OASIS. The average BMI in 3a and 3b injuries was 29.9. In 3c degree it was 28.0, and in the fourth degree, it was 32.1. In 27.0% of OASIS cases due to the extent of the injury surgeon engagement was necessary. When compared with vaginal deliveries in 2012 we found a significant increase in OASIS in primiparas, large for gestational age, occipitoposterior position, induced labour, vacuum extraction and hypertension (P < 0.01). There is also increased incidence of OASIS in episiotomy and oxytocin use group (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Low incidence of OASIS in our department is a result of active management of delivery, manual perineal protection and timely episiotomy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Simó González ◽  
Oriol Porta Roda ◽  
Josep Perelló Capó ◽  
Ignasi Gich Saladich ◽  
Joaquim Calaf Alsina

The aim of this study was to analyze the comparative risks of this anal sphincter injury in relation to the type of intervention in vaginal delivery. We performed an observational, retrospective study of all vaginal deliveries attended at a tertiary university hospital between January 2006 and December 2009. We analyzed the incidence of obstetric anal sphincter injury for each mode of vaginal delivery: spontaneous delivery, vacuum, Thierry spatulas, and forceps. We determined the proportional incidence between methods taking spontaneous delivery as the reference. Ninety-seven of 4526 (2.14%) women included in the study presented obstetric anal sphincter injury. Instrumental deliveries showed a significantly higher risk of anal sphincter injury (2.7 to 4.9%) than spontaneous deliveries (1.1%). The highest incidence was for Thierry spatulas (OR 4.804), followed by forceps (OR 4.089) and vacuum extraction (OR 2.509). The type of intervention in a vaginal delivery is a modifiable intrapartum risk factor for obstetric anal sphincter injury. Tearing can occur in any type of delivery but proportions vary significantly. All healthcare professionals attending childbirth should be aware of the risk for each type of intervention and consider these together with the obstetric factors in each case.


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