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Conservative Treatment or Resuturing Among Women With Perineal Wound Dehiscence After Vaginal Labour

Recruiting
Conditions
Episiotomy; Dehiscence
Dehiscence Wound
Secondary Perineal Tear
Interventions
Other: Clinical examination and pictures
Other: Questionnaire
Registration Number
NCT06026423
Lead Sponsor
Herlev Hospital
Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to make us more aware of the short and long-term outcomes for women having an uncomplicated healing process after a rupture or birth cut in the perineum after giving birth in relation to a healing process with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management or secondary suturing.

Participants will be asked to do

* A gynecological examination at one month after birth and 9-12 months after birth.

* Have a picture taken of the healing process

* Answer a questionnaire at one month, three months, and 9-12 months after birth

Detailed Description

The best way to manage perineal wound dehiscence after childbirth is unknown. Currently, there is no agreed best practice recommendation for managing perineal wound dehiscence due to a lack of evidence comparing conservative management with secondary suturing. Therefore, studies are urgently needed to compare the benefits and risks of both treatments. This study has the potential to significantly impact women´s health for those suffering from perineal wound dehiscence.

The investigators want to include 100 women who have had a primary repair of a second-degree tear or episiotomy with a normal/uncomplicated healing process, 100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy identified with a dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturing, and 100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy identified with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management.

All women who meet the inclusion criteria are recommended the same treatment and follow-up as currently present as standard care at the four hospitals that the investigators are recruiting from. The study deviates from the standard of care by offering two extra clinical examinations, one questionnaire evaluation without clinical examination, and a follow-up with pictures of the perineal tear healing process.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
300
Inclusion Criteria
  • Women with a vaginal delivery who have had a primary repair of a second-degree perineal tear or episiotomy
  • At least 18 years old
  • Able to understand, read and speak Danish or English
  • Able to give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
  • None, first, third- and fourth-degree tear
  • Cesarean Section

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Dehisced wound treated with conservative managementClinical examination and pictures100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy: identified with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management
Normal/uncomplicated healing processClinical examination and pictures100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy primarily sutured after labor: identified with a normal/uncomplicated healing process
Dehisced wound treated with conservative managementQuestionnaire100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy: identified with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management
Dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturingQuestionnaire100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy: identified with a dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturing
Normal/uncomplicated healing processQuestionnaire100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy primarily sutured after labor: identified with a normal/uncomplicated healing process
Dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturingClinical examination and pictures100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy: identified with a dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturing
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Body image9-12 months

Measured by the Body-Image questionnaire FGSIS - Female Genital Self-Image Scale

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Re-admissionWithin one month

The women will be asked whether they have been readmitted to the hospital and why within four weeks p.p.

Fecal incontinenceOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Measured by ICIQ-B questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Bowel (ICIQ-B)

Pain intensityOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Self-reported pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS-score). Numeric rating scale from 0-10 (0 = no pain - 10 = pain as bad as can be)

ProlapseOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Measured by ICIQ-VS questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS)

Urinary incontinenceOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Measured by the ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF)

Psychological well-being (maternal anxiety or depression)Three months, and 9-12 months

Measured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). EPDS is a self-assessment questionnaire consisting of ten statements and the respondent is asked about their feelings over the last seven days. The answers are scored from 0-3 which gives an endpoint from 0-30. In Denmark, women are said to have depressive symptoms after delivery if they score 11 or higher

Wound healingOne month

The proportion of women with healed wounds at one month post-partum assessed by clinical examination and REEDA scale (Redness, Oedema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation of the wound edges). The REEDA scale contains five criteria each receiving a score between 0 and 3. The total score range from 0 - 15 with lower scores representing better-wound healing

Infection rateOne month

The proportion of women with an infected wound until one month post-partum assessed by clinical examination and measured by REEDA scale

DyspareuniaOne month, three months, and 9-12months

Measured by the PISQ-12 questionnaire which is a short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12)

Woman´s satisfaction with the aesthetic results of the perineal woundOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Self-reported. The woman will be asked if she is satisfied with the aesthetic results of the perineal wound

Resuming sexual intercourseOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

Measured by the PISQ-12 questionnaire which is a short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12)

Affected breastfeedingOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

The woman will be asked whether she is breastfeeding or not

Pelvic floor muscle contractionOne month and 9-12 months

Measured by Modified Oxford scale

Consuming painkillers because of pain due to perineal tearOne month, three months, and 9-12 months

The participant will be asked whether she is consuming painkillers because of pain due to a perineal tear (Yes/No)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Copenhagen University Hospital - Herlev and Gentofte

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Herlev, Denmark

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