Pelvic floor ultrasound finds after episiotomy and severe perineal tear: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Aim

Vaginal delivery is a well‐known risk factor for pelvic floor muscle (PFM) injuries, mainly when associated to prolonged labor, instrumental birth and perineal trauma such as episiotomy and perineal tears. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to test the hypothesis that episiotomy and severe perineal tear may increase the risk of pelvic floor damage.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search through electronic databases including MEDLINE via PubMed, LILACS via BVS, Embase via Elsevier and Cochrane Library up to January 2019. We included articles that reported as outcome one or more morphological aspects of the PFM evaluated by ultrasonography in primiparous women three to 24 months postpartum. This review is registered in the PROSPERO database (registration number: CRD42017075750).

Results

the final selection was composed of 18 articles for the systematic review, and 10 for the meta-analysis. Women with levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion were 1.77 times more likely to have undergone episiotomy (OR = 1.77, CI 95% 1.25–2.51, five trials), 4.31 times more likely to have severe perineal tear (OR = 4.31, CI 95% 2.34–7.91, two trials). Women with defects in the anal sphincters were 2.82 times more likely to have suffered severe perineal tear (OR = 2.82, 95% CI 1.71–4.67, three trials).

Conclusions

Both episiotomy and severe perineal tear are risk factors for LAM avulsion and anal sphincter injury, and this can be useful for identifying women who are at greater risk of developing PFM dysfunctions.

Keywords:

• Episiotomy
• pelvic floor
• perineal tear
• postpartum
• ultrasonographic
• vaginal birth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by The Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPQ), grant number (430064/2016-0).