Which elements were significant in reducing obstetric anal sphincter injury? A prospective follow-up study

Background To examine which elements of an obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) care bundle were protective for OASI. Several interventional trials showed that application of a care bundle involving a hands-on approach to perineal protection may reduce the risk of OASI. Previously, we found that only the element “hand on the fetal head” in itself was protective, although the risk of a type 2 error was calculated to be 50%. Methods A prospective follow-up study in an obstetric department in Denmark with 3200 deliveries per year. We included a cohort of 10,383 women giving birth vaginally from gestational week 22 + 0 from 2016 through 2019. We documented on a person-level the five elements of the care bundle together with maternal and obstetrical characteristics. The elements were 1) communication, 2) visible perineum, 3) hand on fetal head, 4) perineal support and 5) certification. Regression analysis was used for analysis of associations. The primary outcome measure was OASI. Results The total rate of OASI in vaginally delivering women was 1.9%. The incidence was 3.2% in nulliparous women giving birth vaginally. The rate of cesarean section was 16.5% and for episiotomy 2.4%. The reduction in the incidence of OASI was sustained since 2013. Hand on the fetal head and perineal support both were protective factors for OASI. In case of a nulliparous woman with a neonate weighing 3500 g giving birth spontaneously, the relative risk (RR) for OASI was 0.50 (95% CI 0.49- 0.51) with use of hand on the fetal head together with perineal support against no use. Similarly, with a nulliparous woman giving birth to a neonate of 3500 g by vacuum extraction, the RR for OASI was 0.65 (95% CI 0.62-0.68) against no use. Conclusions Both hand on the fetal head and perineal support were associated with a reduced risk of OASI.

Metrics of perineal support (MOPS) study

Background: Manual perineal protection (MPP) is an intrapartum intervention suggested to protect perineal integrity during childbirth. Proper execution of MPP is complex and evaluation of its true contribution is difficult in the clinical setting because of the large number of obstetric variables, some of which are hardly quantifiable. In this study we aimed to gather initial data on the forces executed by the accoucheur's thumb, index and middle fingers during MPP at the time of fetal head expulsion, quantify the duration of the intervention and investigate the timely interaction of the different components of MPP.Methods: Two bespoke right-handed measurement gloves (MG), with built in sensors, were designed and produced. The MG allowed the electronic real-time measurement of applied forces during MPP and transferred this data wirelessly to an integrated computer system. Sterile gloves were worn over the MG when used at the time of birth. The study was undertaken between January and December 2019. Singleton, term pregnant women having their first vaginal birth who provided a valid written consent were enrolled into this prospective pilot study. All deliveries were undertaken by one of two obstetricians experienced in MPP Results: Twenty women were enrolled. The mean duration of execution of MPP during the last contraction was 13.6s. In 20% it lasted <5s. The overall mean values of the average and maximum forces of the thumb, index and middle fingers were 26.7 N; 25.5 N; 20.2 N and 34.3 N; 32.6 N; and 27.6 N respectively. The onset of fingers and thumb activity was simultaneous in 13 cases (65%), while in seven (35%) deliveries the middle finger's force activity was initiated later. Conclusions: MPP during fetal head expulsion happens over a short period of time. In the majority of cases the thumb and fingers actions started simultaneously. There were differences in the duration of application and the forces executed by the fingers and thumb between the two practitioners, however this was only significant for thumb measurements. The results obtained will aid in improving further MPP modeling studies to optimize the technique.

Metrics of Perineal Support (MOPS) Study

Background: Manual perineal protection (MPP) is an intrapartum intervention suggested to protect perineal integrity during childbirth. Proper execution of MPP is complex and evaluation of its true contribution is difficult in the clinical setting because of the large number of obstetric variables, some of which are hardly quantifiable. In this study we aimed to gather initial data on the forces executed by the accoucheur's thumb, index and middle fingers during MPP at the time of fetal head expulsion, quantify the duration of the intervention and investigate the timely interaction of the different components of MPP.Methods: Two bespoke right-handed measurement gloves (MG), with built in sensors, were designed and produced. The MG allowed the electronic real-time measurement of applied forces during MPP and transferred this data wirelessly to an integrated computer system. Sterile gloves were worn over the MG when used at the time of birth. The study was undertaken between January and December 2019. Singleton, term pregnant women having their first vaginal birth who provided a valid written consent were enrolled into this prospective pilot study. All deliveries were undertaken by one of two obstetricians experienced in MPPResults: Twenty women were enrolled. The mean duration of execution of MPP during the last contraction was 13.6 s. In 20% it lasted < 5 s. The overall means of the mean and maximum forces of the thumb, index and middle fingers were 26.7 N; 25.5 N; 20.2 N and 34.3 N; 32.6 N; and 27.6 N respectively. The onset of fingers and thumb activity was simultaneous in 13 cases (65%), while in seven (35%) deliveries the middle finger's force activity was initiated later.Conclusions: MPP during fetal head expulsion happens over a short period of time. In the majority of cases the thumb and fingers actions started simultaneously. There were differences in the duration of application and the forces executed by the fingers and thumb between the two practitioners, however this was only significant for thumb measurements. The results obtained will aid in improving further MPP modeling studies to optimize the technique.

Treatment of Chronic Anal Fissure

Chronic anal fissure is a non healing ulcer in the anoderm appearing as a painful tear below the dentate line. There are debates about the efficacy of different treatment options for chronic anal fissure. This review aims to evaluate existing and newer treatment modalities. Aspects of chronic anal fissure aetiology and pathogenesis are also reviewed. Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) ointment, Diltiazem ointment can be used as first line and Botulinum toxin (BTX) injection as second line pharmacological treatment. The effects of these chemicals are not permanent with higher fissure recurrence rates. Lateral internal sphincterotomy is the operative treatment of choice for fissures with high anal tone. Flap anoplasty should be done for fissures with normal anal tone especially in female patients. Both surgical procedures can be used as primary treatment option. The newer treatment options like gonyautoxin, controlled balloon anal dilatation, closed anal spand fissurotomy need more research. Perineal support device can be used as an adjunct to other treatment modalities. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2015) Vol. 19 (2) : 67-71

The second stage of labour

The second stage of labor begins with full dilatation of cervix and ends with delivery of the fetus. In most of the cases the labor progresses uneventfully, without any need of an active intervention but in few cases complications may occur. With passage of time there has been better understanding about second stage of labor, still there are several grey areas yet to be resolved. This review endeavours to scrutinize a variety of care practices including positions, time and type of pushing, use of epidural analgesia, and perineal support techniques etc and discuss evidence based management of second stage of labor. The review was carried out in the period of 1900-2019 by searching in Pub Med, Embase, Scopus, Google scholar, Web of sciences using relevant key words. Reports, articles, fact sheets and official publications of World health Organization (WHO), Ministry of health and family welfare-Govt of India and various other countries were also reviewed.