Actualización sobre la efectividad y evidencia del masaje perinealante-natal / Update on the effectiveness and evidence of ante-natal perineal massage

El impacto y la morbilidad que genera el traumaperineal durante el parto vaginal justifica la necesidadde encontrar estrategias que lo minimicen. El masajeperineal antenatal (MPA) se plantea como una técnicaque incrementa la elasticidad del periné y que podríareducir el daño en el suelo pélvico. La presente revisiónpretendió conocer la efectividad y la evidencia científica que avala este procedimiento. Se consultaron las bases de datos Medline, Cochrane, Tripdatabase y Cuiden,en español y en inglés, de los últimos seis años. Se encontraron diez artículos con diferentes niveles de evidencia. Todos ellos fueron favorables al empleo de estatécnica. Aunque es necesaria investigación adicional, laevidencia disponible actualmente sugiere que el uso delMPA al final del embarazo podría ser un procedimientoefectivo y seguro para reducir el trauma perineal en elparto, especialmente en primigestas, y el dolor postparto en multíparas.

The impact and morbidity generated by perineal trauma during vaginal delivery justifies the needto find strategies to minimize it. Ante-natal perinealmassage (APM) is proposed as a technique that increases the elasticity of the perineum and that couldreduce damage to the pelvic floor. This review setout to discover the effectiveness and the scientificevidence that supports this procedure. The Medline,Cochrane, Tripdatabase and Cuiden databases for thelast six years were consulted, in Spanish and English.Ten studies with different levels of evidence werefound. All of them favoured the use of this technique.Although further research is needed, evidence currently available suggests that the use of APM in latepregnancy could be an effective and safe procedureto reduce perineal trauma in childbirth, especially inprimiparous women, and postpartum pain in multiparous women.(AU)

[Update on the effectiveness and evidence of ante-natal perineal massage].

The impact and morbidity generated by perineal trauma during vaginal delivery justifies the need to find strategies to minimize it. Ante-natal perineal massage (APM) is proposed as a technique that increases the elasticity of the perineum and that could reduce damage to the pelvic floor. This review set out to discover the effectiveness and the scientific evidence that supports this procedure. The Medline, Cochrane, Tripdatabase and Cuiden databases for the last six years were consulted, in Spanish and English. Ten studies with different levels of evidence were found. All of them favoured the use of this technique. Although further research is needed, evidence currently available suggests that the use of APM in late pregnancy could be an effective and safe procedure to reduce perineal trauma in childbirth, especially in primiparous women, and postpartum pain in multiparous women.