title: [Application of perineum heat therapy during partum to reduce injuries that require post-partum stitches].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the effectiveness of heat, moist or dry to the perineum during delivery in order to reduce injuries requiring perineal suturing after birth, and to assess its safety in relation to the adaptation of the newborn to extrauterine life.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open multicentre clinical trial directed from the School of Nursing at the University of Barcelona was carried out between 2009 and 2010 in 5 Catalan Hospitals. The sample consisted of 198 pregnant women subjected to the natural protocol for normal delivery assistance. The pregnant women were randomized to three study groups: moist heat (MHG), dry heat (DHG), and control (CG). Usual care of the perineum was performed during labour in all groups and MHG or GCS was also applied in the perineum in the intervention groups. The Apgar score in the newborn and perineum postpartum was then assessed. Statistical tests were performed using a 95% confidence interval. Statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS version 17.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Perinea that required no suturing: MHG 71% (47) versus CG 56% (37), OR: 1.803; (95% CI: 0.881-3.687); DHG 62% (41) versus CG 56% (37), OR:1.285 (95% CI: 0.641-2.577); MHG 71% (47) versus DHG 62% (41), OR:1.402 (95% CI: 0.680-2.890). MEAN: Apgar score 5', MHG: 9.91; DHG: 9.98, CG: 9.98. p=0.431.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The application of heat therapy to the perineum during labour did not significantly reduce perineal suturing after birth. However, better perineal results were observed with moist heat. Heat therapy does not alter neonatal outcomes measured by Apgar score.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Enfermería, Universidad de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: cterre@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terré-Rull
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Enfermería, Fisioteràpia y Podología, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Juan Vicente
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Beneit-Montesinos
authors.affiliation: Institut Català de la Salut, ASSIR La Riera, Badalona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Roser
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gol-Gómez
authors.affiliation: Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de la Fundación Althaia, Manresa, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garriga-Comas
authors.affiliation: Hospital Parc Martí i Juliá, Salt, Girona, España.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrer-Comalat
authors.affiliation: Hospital General de Hospitalet, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Salgado-Poveda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010502:Perineum; D011247:Pregnancy; D013537:Sutures
keywords: Childbirth; Matrona; Midwifery; Natural childbirth; Parto; Parto natural; Perineum; Periné; Second stage of labour; Segundo periodo de parto