title: Randomized controlled trial of abdominal binders for postoperative pain, distress, and blood loss after cesarean delivery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of using abdominal binders on pain, distress, and postpartum hemorrhage after cesarean delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present prospective randomized controlled trial enrolled patients undergoing non-emergency cesarean deliveries in Gonbad-e Kavus, Golestan Province, Iran, between January 22 and October 23, 2015. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio by blocks of four or six to a control group or to use an abdominal binder after delivery; all patients received routine care. The primary outcomes were visual analog scale-assessed pain, symptom distress scale (SDS)-assessed distress, and hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Participants and researchers were masked to treatment assignments until after cesarean delivery, and data analysis was unmasked; intention-to-treat analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 89 patients enrolled in each group, with no differences in baseline pain scores, SDS scores, and hemoglobin and hematocrit levels between the groups (all P>0.05). Pain and SDS scores were lower in the binder group at all post-baseline time points compared with the control group (all P<0.001). Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were higher among patients who received binders 36 hours after baseline (both P<0.001). There was one patient who experienced hemorrhage in the binders group and one patient requested removal of their binder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients who received abdominal binders reported less pain, lower SDS scores, and higher hemoglobin and hematocrit levels following cesarean delivery.
  IRCT2015042521917N2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Samieh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghana
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Sevil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirghafourvand
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Abbasalizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasser
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Behnampour
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D006473:Postpartum Hemorrhage / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D014340:Trusses; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominal binders; Cesarean delivery; Distress; Postoperative pain; Postpartum hemorrhage