INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether antepartum use of a birth trainer may reduce levator trauma. METHODS:Two hundred nulliparous women were examined with four-dimensional translabial ultrasonography at 35-37 weeks of gestation and 3 months postpartum in a randomised controlled pilot study. Women in the intervention group were instructed to use the birth trainer from 37 weeks onwards. RESULTS:One hundred forty-six women returned for follow-up 5.6 months (range 2.3-22.1) after childbirth. Seventy-eight of them had had normal vaginal deliveries (53%), 32 vacuum/forceps (22%) and 36 a caesarean section (25%). The risk of avulsion was halved in the intervention group (6% vs 13%, P = 0.19) on modified intention to treat analysis. A treatment received analysis revealed a nonsignificant 42% and 30% reduction in levator avulsion and microtrauma, respectively (P ≥ 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot randomised controlled trial showed a nonsignificantly lower incidence of pelvic floor muscle injury in women who used the Epi-No device from 37 weeks onwards.
RCT Entities:
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether antepartum use of a birth trainer may reduce levator trauma. METHODS: Two hundred nulliparous women were examined with four-dimensional translabial ultrasonography at 35-37 weeks of gestation and 3 months postpartum in a randomised controlled pilot study. Women in the intervention group were instructed to use the birth trainer from 37 weeks onwards. RESULTS: One hundred forty-six women returned for follow-up 5.6 months (range 2.3-22.1) after childbirth. Seventy-eight of them had had normal vaginal deliveries (53%), 32 vacuum/forceps (22%) and 36 a caesarean section (25%). The risk of avulsion was halved in the intervention group (6% vs 13%, P = 0.19) on modified intention to treat analysis. A treatment received analysis revealed a nonsignificant 42% and 30% reduction in levator avulsion and microtrauma, respectively (P ≥ 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: This pilot randomised controlled trial showed a nonsignificantly lower incidence of pelvic floor muscle injury in women who used the Epi-No device from 37 weeks onwards.
Authors: T Aigmueller; W Bader; K Beilecke; K Elenskaia; A Frudinger; E Hanzal; H Helmer; H Huemer; M van der Kleyn; D Koelle; S Kropshofer; J Pfeiffer; C Reisenauer; A Tammaa; K Tamussino; W Umek Journal: Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd Date: 2015-02 Impact factor: 2.915
Authors: Stéphanie Thibault-Gagnon; Sara Yusuf; Suzanne Langer; Vivien Wong; Ka Lai Shek; Andrew Martin; Hans Peter Dietz Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2014-05-23 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: T Aigmueller; W Umek; K Elenskaia; A Frudinger; J Pfeifer; H Helmer; H Huemer; A Tammaa; M van der Kleyn; K Tamussino; D Koelle Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2012-11-17 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: Caroline W S Ferreira; Ixora K Atan; Andrew Martin; Ka Lai Shek; Hans Peter Dietz Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2017-03-11 Impact factor: 2.894