COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES FOR PERINEAL SKIN CLOSURE DURING MEDIOLATERAL EPISIOTOMY REPAIR: A Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Episiotomy is still the most common surgical procedure performed by obstetricians. 85% and more of women having vaginal delivery will suffer some perineal trauma, whether in the form of spontaneous tears or episiotomy, both will require closure at least in third of women. Pain in the site of the episiotomy is not uncommon. Although women without episiotomies will often have perineal pain, those with episiotomies will often have pain that is more localized and lasts longer. Suturing the perineum may optimize the meticulous closure, but also may induce reactivity and sometimes require removal, this adds no help in reducing site pain. The current study was conducted at Ain Shams maternity hospital during the period between February 2019 and December 2020. The aim of this work was to assess the efficacy of surgical glue and adhesive tapes compared to traditional subcuticular suturing in maintaining closed clean wound. Other outcomes were site pain, duration of closure, wound infection, cosmesis, pain during daily activities, dyspareunia, and women and operator satisfaction.

The study included 159 healthy primiparous women aged 18-35 years who underwent mediolateral episiotomy during vaginal delivery of a single non macrosomic baby. They were enrolled after informed consent had been obtained. Exclusion criteria included pre-existing local infection, medical illness that can delay healing, known hypersensitivity, instrumental delivery or the use of regional anesthesia.