[Repair of episiotomies with synthetic suture material].

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study is to investigate possibilities for episiorrhaphy with synthetic sutures and patients follow up for complains and physical status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study is prospective and it includes 180 patients. We used for episiorrhaphy synthetic sutures Polyglycolic acid (1st group), Polyglactin 910 (2nd group) and plain cat gut and silk (3rd group). Vaginal walls, perineum and skin, in the former two groups of patients, had been sutured only with synthetic suture materials. In the third group we used plain cat gut for vaginal walls and perineum sutures and silk sutures for the skin. We used classical surgical and anesthesiological technics. We followed up anatomical repair, presence ofperineal pain, doctors opinion and patients' attitude. We took into account 5th day post partum results. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Anatomical repair of the episiorrhaphy doesn't differ significantly depending on the type of suture material (n.s.-P>0.05). All episiorrhaphies had been healed primary. In the groups were Polyglycolic acid or Polyglactin 910 had been used, local injury reaction (erythema, edema) had been developed more slightly compared with plain cat gut - silk group. Functional results as perineal pain are significantly less expressed in Polyglycolic acid and Polyglactin 910 groups. These patients had pain less frequently and with lesser degree (s.-P<0.05). In these groups patients didn't suffer from fear of sutures removal and sutures were both functional and cosmetic.