title: Does water delivery affect pelvic floor? Ultrasound evaluation of perineal function.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study is to analyse urethral mobility and excursion of the pubo-rectal angle, using perineal ultrasound, after normal vaginal delivery and water delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 52 primiparous women were enrolled: 25 who had delivery in water (W Group), 27 who had delivery without using water (NW Group). Every woman underwent perineal ultrasound assessment at 6 months after having given birth. The following parameters were assessed: urethral mobility during Valsalva's manoeuvre, movement of the puborectal sling angle during contraction of the levator ani muscle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data obtained show that the urethral mobility during Valsalva's manoeuvre is higher in the W Group (34.9 degrees) in comparison to the NW Group (29.5 degrees), without statistically significant differences. The excursion of the pubo-rectal sling angle resulted lower in the W Group (8.7 degrees) than in the NW Group (11.0 degrees), without statistically significant differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study found no statistically differences in pelvic floor, using perineal ultrasound, between water and "non-water" delivery.
authors.affiliation: Ospedale San Martino, Dipartimento di Ginecologia e Ostetricia, University of Genova, Padiglione 1, I piano, Largo R. Benzi, 16100 Genova, Italy mistrangelo.e@libero.it
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mistrangelo
authors.forename: Chiara R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gaggero
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nadalini
authors.forename: Sara G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morano
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014521:Urethra / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*