Episiotomy repair--immediate and long-term sequelae. A prospective randomized study of three different methods of repair.
Three methods of episiotomy repair were randomly assigned after 900 consecutive deliveries. The three procedures were: (1) continuous No. 00-plain catgut in the vagina; No. 00-plain catgut interrupted stitches in the perineal muscles and fascia, and No. 00-nylon interrupted stitches in the skin. (2) The same technique as in (1), but with No. 0-polyglycolic acid (Dexon) in all layers. (3) The suture material as in (2), but used with a subcuticular technique. The women treated with method 3 reported statistically significant less pain and disabilities in the early puerperium. Three months after delivery 262 women (33%) still had perineal complaints which could be directly related to the episiotomy in 25% (8% of total number). The group treated with method 3 had the best long-term results and we conclude that the subcuticular technique using polyglycolic acid should be the method of choice.
D002398:Catgut; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004841:Episiotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013536:Suture Techniques
D011100:Polyglycolic Acid