Short vs long second stage of labour: is there a difference in terms of postpartum anal incontinence?
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to determine if prolonged second-stage labour independently increases postpartum anal incontinence.


METHODS
360 primiparous women were studied retrospectively after vaginal delivery of term cephalic singletons, including a group with short second-stage labour (<30min, n=163) and a group with a prolonged second stage (>90min, n=197). A quality of life questionnaire on anal incontinence (FIQOL) was sent out at 15 months after delivery.


RESULTS
184 women (96 with short second-stage labour and 88 with a prolonged second stage) answered the questionnaire (response rate 51%). Flatus incontinence was reported after prolonged second-stage labour in 9.1% of women vs 15.6% after short second stage (p=0.18). Fecal incontinence was reported after prolonged second-stage labour in 2.3% vs 5.2% after a short second stage (p=0.45).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that prolonged second stage of labour should not be associated with an increased risk of postpartum incontinence.
Badiou
Wassim
W
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Paule de Viguier Hospital, Toulouse Cedex 9, France. w.badiou@gmail.com
Bousquet
Philippe-Jean
PJ
Prat-Pradal
Dominique
D
Monroziès
Xavier
X
Mares
Pierre
P
de Tayrac
Renaud
R
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries; D015331:Cohort Studies; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007748:Labor Stage, Second / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors