Obstetric anal sphincter injuries during instrumental vaginal delivery: An observational study based on 18-years of real-world data.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and secular trends of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in vacuum and forceps deliveries in Norway, both with and without episiotomy. DESIGN: Population-based real-world data collected during 2001-2018. SETTING: Medical Birth Registry Norway. POPULATION OR SAMPLE: Nulliparous women with singleton foetuses in a cephalic presentation delivered by either vacuum or forceps (n = 70 783). METHODS: Logistic regression analyses were applied to the OASIS prevalence in six 3-year time periods. Both crude odds ratios and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: OASIS prevalence. RESULTS: The OASIS prevalence in vacuum and forceps deliveries decreased from 14.8% during 2001-2003 to 5.2% during 2016-2018. The overall reduction between the first and last 3-year time period was 61% (aOR = 0.39, 95% CIs = 0.35-0.43). The only exception to this decreasing trend in OASIS was found in forceps deliveries performed without an episiotomy. The OASIS prevalence was approximately twofold higher in forceps compared to vacuum deliveries (aOR = 1.92, 95% CIs = 1.79-2.05). Performing either a mediolateral or lateral episiotomy was associated with a 45% decrease in the prevalence of OASIS relative to no episiotomy (aOR = 0.55, 95% CIs = 0.52-0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Opting for vacuum rather than forceps delivery in conjunction with a mediolateral or lateral episiotomy could significantly lower the OASIS prevalence in nulliparous women.

Sexual activity and dyspareunia the first year postpartum in relation to degree of perineal trauma.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Knowledge on sexual complaints and time to sexual resumption after obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) is scarce. The aim of the study was to investigate self-reported sexual activity and coital problems 1 year postpartum in relation to perineal trauma, in addition to delivery mode. METHODS: Among 2,846 women recruited during pregnancy, all women who delivered with OASI (n = 42, all third-degree perineal tears), in addition to 20 randomly selected controls per OASI case, a total of 882 women, were sent a self-administered questionnaire addressing time to coital resumption after delivery and potential coital difficulty 1 year postpartum. RESULTS: By 8 weeks, half of the 561 responders (51.4 %) had resumed intercourse, increasing to 75.2 % by 12 weeks and 94.7 % 1 year postpartum. In multivariate regression analysis OASI was the strongest predictor for postponed coital onset, defined as after 8 weeks (aOR 5.52, CI 1.59-19.16). OASI was also the only significant predictor for dyspareunia 1 year after delivery (aOR 3.57, CI 1.39-9.19). Episiotomy was neither a risk factor for postponed coital onset nor for dyspareunia. There were no differences between episiotomy and second-degree laceration injury groups regarding postponed coital onset (p = 0.45) or dyspareunia (p = 0.67) 1 year postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Obstetric anal sphincter injury was a strong and independent predictor for both postponed coital resumption after delivery and for dyspareunia 1 year postpartum, whereas episiotomy and spontaneous second-degree lacerations were not. Our main finding of affected sexual activity after OASI further supports the need to reduce the rates of this obstetric injury to a minimum.

Episiotomy preferences, indication, and classification--a survey among Nordic doctors.

INTRODUCTION: Episiotomy performance impacts perineal health and rates of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). Our objective was to assess self-reported episiotomy practice and opinions on clinical indication for episiotomy among Nordic physicians and to investigate potential misclassification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A survey was conducted among doctors attending the 2012 Nordic obstetrical and gynecological conference. Participants were asked to draw an episiotomy on a photo of a perineum with a crowning fetal head similarly to their clinical practice if an episiotomy was clinically indicated, and to name the technique drawn. Differences in outcome measures were compared by country of practice and seniority. RESULTS: The majority of the 297 participants (47%) drew a lateral episiotomy according to our classification by incision point and angle, but as many as 64% of these 138 doctors misclassified this as mediolateral episiotomy. Only 20% drew a mediolateral episiotomy, the great majority classifying it accurately, but 8% misclassified their mediolateral cut as a lateral episiotomy. One-third of episiotomies were nonclassifiable. In general, doctors in Finland, Sweden, and Norway more often favored lateral episiotomies compared with doctors in Denmark and Iceland. There were significant differences between Finnish and Norwegian vs. Danish and Swedish doctors in perception of clinical indications for episiotomy. CONCLUSIONS: The great variation in self-reported episiotomy performance between Nordic physicians and large misclassification rates indicate that educational programs are warranted. Use of uniform classification and appropriate techniques may be crucial to investigate the role of episiotomies in preventing OASIS.

Effect of different episiotomy techniques on perineal pain and sexual activity 3 months after delivery.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The effect of different episiotomy techniques on pain perception 3 months after delivery is unknown. Study aims were to explore the association between different episiotomy techniques and perineal pain 3 months after delivery and to assess female sexual activity in relation to episiotomy technique. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study, designed to investigate short- and long-term complications of different episiotomy techniques. All 300 participants were recruited and clinically examined during their postpartum hospital stay in order to evaluate episiotomy performance. A 3-month follow-up questionnaire addressing pain, sexual activity, and puerperal wound infection was distributed to 208 women who had scored perineal pain in a personal interview the first day after delivery. RESULTS: A response rate of 87.7 % was obtained. We found no difference in pain score distribution by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) when comparing midline, mediolateral, and lateral episiotomy techniques (p = 0.32) or between midline and lateral incision points (p = 0.58). Dyspareunia was reported by 33 out of 179 women, but no difference between episiotomy techniques (p = 0.90), or between episiotomy incision points (p = 0.14), was found. Perineal wound infection was reported by 9.5 %, but there was no significant difference between episiotomy techniques (p = 0.73). CONCLUSIONS: No difference was found in perineal pain perception 3 months postpartum between different episiotomy techniques or when comparing midline and lateral incision points. Dyspareunia was not associated with any particular episiotomy technique or incision point.

Different episiotomy techniques, postpartum perineal pain, and blood loss: an observational study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The lateral episiotomy technique has been postulated to cause more postpartum perineal pain and blood loss compared to the midline and mediolateral episiotomy technique. The aim of the study was to explore the association with postpartum perineal pain and blood loss between different episiotomy techniques. METHODS: Clinical evaluation of episiotomy was performed 0-3 days after delivery on 300 participating women. Episiotomy technique was classified by millimeter distance from the incision point to the posterior fourchette and by angle from the sagittal plane in degrees. Postpartum perineal pain was scored on a visual analogue scale (VAS) the first day after delivery. Blood loss data were collected from medical charts. Different episiotomy techniques and different episiotomy incision point groups were compared in relation to perineal pain perception and blood loss. RESULTS: We found no difference between midline, mediolateral, and lateral episiotomy techniques in perineal pain perception the first postpartum day (p = 0.74) or in estimated blood loss (p = 0.38). No differences were found in perineal pain or blood loss between midline and lateral incision points. Mediolateral angles were significantly narrower than lateral angles (p < 0.005). Physicians performed longer episiotomies than midwives (p < 0.005), but episiotomy angle did not vary between professions (p = 0.075). CONCLUSIONS: No differences in perineal pain perception the first postpartum day and no differences in estimated blood loss were found when comparing different episiotomy techniques or when comparing midline and lateral incision points.