Infection and wound breakdown in spontaneous second-degree perineal tears: An exploratory mixed methods study

Occurrence and risk factors for second-degree perineal tears: A prospective cohort study using a detailed classification system

BACKGROUND

The amount of tissue trauma within second-degree perineal tears varies widely. Therefore, subcategorization of second-degree tears and a better understanding of their occurrence and risk factors are needed. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of perineal tears when second-degree tears were subcategorized. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the association between variables related to perineal anatomy and other potential risk factors, with second-degree tear subcategories.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 880 primiparous and multiparous women giving birth to one child vaginally. Perineal tears were categorized using the classification system recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In addition, second-degree tears were subcategorized as 2A, 2B, or 2C according to the percentage of damage to the perineal body. Selected variables related to perineal anatomy were as follows: length of genital hiatus; perineal body length; and previous perineal trauma. Risk factors for second-degree tear subcategories were analyzed using a multinominal regression model.

RESULTS

Perineal tears occurred as follows: first-degree: 35.6% (n = 313), 2A: 16.3% (n = 143), 2B: 9.1% (n = 80), 2C: 6.6% (n = 58), and third- or fourth-degree: 1.6% (n = 14). In total, 169/880 participants underwent an episiotomy. When episiotomies were excluded, the risk for 2B, or 2C tears increased with smaller genital hiatus, larger perineal body, previous perineal trauma, primiparity, higher gestational age, instrumental vaginal delivery and fetal presentation other than occiput anterior.

CONCLUSION

The occurrence of second-degree tear subcategories was 16.3% for 2A tears, 9.1% for 2B tears, and 6.6% for 2C tears. Factors related to perineal anatomy increased the odds for experiencing a second-degree tear in a more severe subcategory.

Measurement of perineal tears as an additional tool for laceration assessment during vaginal birth

INTRODUCTION

Spontaneous lacerations at vaginal birth are everyday events, but their classification and management still challenge midwifery care. This study aims to measure and describe first-degree and second-degree perineal lacerations resulting from vaginal birth, describe their repair, and the education provided for care.

METHODS

A descriptive study was conducted in a public maternity hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, with 87 parturients. Data were collected between October 2017 and June 2018 using a structured instrument containing obstetric variables and a description of lacerations. The obstetricians and nurse midwives assisted with births, determining the degree of laceration and intervention, and the researchers measured and reported them.

RESULTS

The majority of parturients (82.7%) had lacerations only in the anterior region, 8% had them in the posterior region, and 9.2% in both regions. The lacerations were classified as first-degree (78.1%) or second-degree (21.8%). Among the 32 nulliparous parturients, 27.6% had first-degree lacerations, and 9.2% had second-degree. Of the 55 multiparous parturients, 50.6% had first-degree, and 12.6% had second-degree. Among the lacerations assessed as first-degree, 25% had deeper tissue layers compromised in addition to the skin and mucosa. There were 180 lacerations, with an average length of 33.1 mm, depth of 19.8 mm, and width of 23.8 mm. Half of the parturients did not receive guidance on laceration care. There was no association between parity and size, number, location, or degree classification of lacerations.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a broad description of the characteristics of perineal lacerations and presents measurement techniques as a complementary resource for evaluating lacerations.

Management of postpartum perineal wound complications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Perineal wound complications occur in up to 25% of postpartum patients. Wound complications are most common after obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) but can occur after any laceration. It is imperative that any provider caring for postpartum patients understand the best evidence-based practices to recognize and manage these complications. We present a review of the available literature on the management of postpartum perineal wound complications.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is a paucity of new publications on the management of postpartum perineal wound complications, despite an increased emphasis on postpartum recovery in women's health. The role of topical estrogen in healing of perineal wounds was investigated in a pilot study, demonstrating that granulation tissue does express estrogen receptors, and the use of estrogen increases cell proliferation. Progression of perineal wound healing by secondary intention was evaluated in an observational study. Wound healing was delayed in 30% of women, with the initial wound area, perimeter, bacterial colonization, and OASIS being associated with delayed healing.

SUMMARY

Evidence based practices on timing of follow-up, addressing wound care and analgesia, administrating antibiotics, timing secondary repair, and surgical technique all play a role in optimizing recovery and reducing morbidity in patients with postpartum perineal wound complications.

The relationship between perineal trauma and postpartum psychological outcomes: a secondary analysis of a population-based survey

BACKGROUND

Perineal trauma, involving either naturally occurring tears or episiotomy, is common during childbirth but little is known about its psychological impact. This study aimed to determine the associations between childbirth related perineal trauma and psychological outcomes reported by women three months after giving birth and to explore factors that could mediate relationships between perineal trauma and maternal psychological outcomes.

METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of data from a cross-sectional population-based survey of maternal and infant health. A total of 4,578 women responded to the survey, of which 3,307 had a vaginal birth and were eligible for inclusion into the analysis. Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms were assessed using validated self- report measures. Physical symptoms were derived from a checklist and combined to produce a composite physical symptoms score. Regression models were fitted to explore the associations.

RESULTS

Nearly three quarters of women experienced some degree of perineal trauma. Women who experienced perineal trauma reported having more postnatal physical symptoms (adjusted proportional odds ratio 1.47, 95%CI 1.38 to 1.57, p-value < 0.001), were more likely to report PTS symptoms (adjusted OR 1.19, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.36, p-value 0.010), and there was strong evidence that each unit increase in the physical symptoms score was associated with between 38 and 90% increased adjusted odds of adverse psychological symptoms. There was no evidence of association between perineal trauma and satisfaction with postnatal care, although there was strong evidence that satisfaction with labour and birth was associated with 16% reduced adjusted odds of depression and 30% reduced adjusted odds of PTS symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Women who experienced perineal trauma were more likely to experience physical symptoms, and the more physical symptoms a woman experienced the more likely she was to report having postnatal depression, anxiety and PTS symptoms. There was some evidence of a direct association between perineal trauma and PTS symptoms but no evidence of a direct association between perineal trauma and depression or anxiety. Assessment and management of physical symptoms in the postnatal period may play an important role in reducing both physical and psychological postnatal morbidity.

Risk Factors for Perineal Wound Breakdown in Early Postpartum: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

We conducted a retrospective case-control study in patients presenting a perineal tear (second degree or higher) or episiotomy complicated by wound breakdown during maternity stay to identify risk factors associated with wound breakdown in early postpartum with a view to improving the quality of care. We collected ante- and intrapartum characteristics and outcomes at the postpartum visit. In all, 84 cases and 249 control subjects were included. In univariate analysis, primiparity, absence of history of vaginal delivery, a longer second phase of labour, instrumental delivery, and a higher degree of laceration emerged as risk factors for early perineal suture breakdown postpartum. Gestational diabetes, peripartum fever, streptococcus B, and suture technique did not emerge as risk factors for perineal breakdown. Multivariate analysis confirmed that instrumental delivery (OR = 2.18 [1.07; 4.41], p = 0.03) and a longer second phase of labour (OR = 1.72 [1.23; 2.42], p = 0.001) were risk factors for early perineal suture breakdown.

Effect of individualized comfortable nursing on prognosis of vacuum sealing drainage in patients with orthopedic trauma

To explore the effect of individualized comfortable nursing on prognosis of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in patients with orthopedic trauma. 110 patients with orthopedic trauma VSD were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 55 patients in each group receiving routine care and comfortable care. The wound healing time, visual analog scale, quality of life score, the level of inflammatory factors, the incidence of complications, and patient satisfaction were compared between the 2 groups. The average time of wound healing in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .01). The satisfaction rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P = .029). Meanwhile, the results showed that visual analog scale and quality of life scores in the observation group was significantly improved than that of the control group after receiving intervention (P < .05). After receiving intervention, the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 of patients in both groups were decreased, and the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the observation group were significantly decreased than those in the control group. Moreover, the incidence rate of adverse reaction in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < .01). Comfortable nursing can reduce the wound healing time, the postoperative pain level, the incidence of complications, and improve patient satisfaction, which is of great significance for the prognosis of VSD in patients with orthopedic trauma.

The clinical progression and wound healing rate of dehisced perineal tears healing by secondary intention: A prospective observational study

OBJECTIVES

To establish the clinical progression of dehisced perineal wounds healing by secondary intention and to investigate the incidence and factors associated with delayed healing.

METHODS

Secondary analysis of women with perineal wound dehiscence recruited into the PERINEAL study between August 2020- August 2021 (NCT04480684). Three-dimensional wound measurements were taken with the Silhouette® camera. Significant bacterial colonisation was diagnosed using the MolecuLight i:X camera. As it is agreed that acute wounds should heal sufficiently within four weeks, diagnosis of delayed wound healing was made if a wound took longer than four weeks to heal. A wound was deemed to have healed if there was complete wound closure, with no evidence of granulation tissue or signs of infection on clinical examination.

RESULTS

55 women with perineal wound dehiscence participated. Wounds took an average of 3 weeks to heal (range 1-16) and 38 (69.1%) wounds healed in ≤ 4 weeks from the first clinical review. 17 (30.9%) wounds had significant bacterial colonisation, identified on bacterial fluorescence imaging. Women with a wound area of < 1.60 cm² or wound perimeter of < 5.57 cm had a 70% probability of wound healing in ≤ 4 weeks. 47.1% of wounds with significant bacteria colonisation healed within 4 weeks, in comparison to 78.9% of wounds not colonised (p = 0.03). 25.0 % (n = 2) of wounds with OASI healed within 4 weeks, in comparison to 76.5% (n = 36) of wounds with no OASI (p = 0.02). Bacterial fluorescence (OR 0.21 (0.05-0.87)) and OASIs (OR 0.09 (0.01-0.66)) were independent risk factors associated with delayed wound healing. The model including wound area, fluorescence and OASIs had the greatest AUC (0.81, 95% CI 0.67-0.94) indicating the best predictive model.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to describe healing outcomes of dehisced perineal wounds and factors associated with delayed healing. The study findings will help clinicians counsel women effectively and tailor follow-up care at the first assessment, based on individual risk factors.

Healing of disrupted perineal wounds after vaginal delivery: a poorly understood condition

Perineal injury following childbirth can result in complications such as wound infection and dehiscence. The reported incidence of these complications in the literature range between 0.1-23.6% and 0.2-24.6%, respectively. However, the healing of disrupted perineal wounds is poorly understood. In addition, it is a neglected area in maternity services. In this review, the authors explore the process of wound healing in the context of infected perineal wounds following childbirth. In addition, the authors describe the management of complications including hypergranulation, perineal pain and dyspareunia.