Qing Wang1,2,3, Xiaojie Yu1,2,3, Xiuli Sun4,5,6, Jianliu Wang1,2,3. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11, Xi-Zhi-Men South Street, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China. 2. The Key Laboratory of Female Pelvic Floor Disorders, Beijing, China. 3. Research Center of Female Pelvic Floor Disorders of Peking University, Beijing, China. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11, Xi-Zhi-Men South Street, Xi Cheng District, Beijing, 100044, China. sunxiuli03351@126.com. 5. The Key Laboratory of Female Pelvic Floor Disorders, Beijing, China. sunxiuli03351@126.com. 6. Research Center of Female Pelvic Floor Disorders of Peking University, Beijing, China. sunxiuli03351@126.com.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: With the increasingly extensive application of epidural analgesia, its effect on pelvic floor function outcomes has received growing attention. The aim of the study is to determine the possible effect of epidural analgesia on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) endurance and strength and the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) at 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 333 primiparous women after vaginal delivery. At 6 weeks postpartum, a vaginal balloon connected to a high-precision pressure transducer was used to measure PFM strength and endurance. SUI/UI was determined using the verified Chinese International Classification of Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Women in the epidural analgesia group experienced longer first and second stages of labor (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of perineal lacerations, forceps assistance or episiotomy between women with or without epidural analgesia (p > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in PFM endurance (B: 0.933, 95% CI confidence interval: -1.413 to 3.278, p: 0.435) or PFM strength (B: 0.044, 95% CI: -3.204 to 3.291, p:0.979) between these two groups. In addition, the prevalence of UI (30.77% vs. 26.87%) and SUI (21.54% vs. 16.42%) in women with or without epidural analgesia was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PFM function and UI prevalence at 6 weeks postpartum are not significantly affected by epidural analgesia.
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: With the increasingly extensive application of epidural analgesia, its effect on pelvic floor function outcomes has received growing attention. The aim of the study is to determine the possible effect of epidural analgesia on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) endurance and strength and the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) at 6 weeks postpartum. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 333 primiparous women after vaginal delivery. At 6 weeks postpartum, a vaginal balloon connected to a high-precision pressure transducer was used to measure PFM strength and endurance. SUI/UI was determined using the verified Chinese International Classification of Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS:Women in the epidural analgesia group experienced longer first and second stages of labor (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of perineal lacerations, forceps assistance or episiotomy between women with or without epidural analgesia (p > 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in PFM endurance (B: 0.933, 95% CI confidence interval: -1.413 to 3.278, p: 0.435) or PFM strength (B: 0.044, 95% CI: -3.204 to 3.291, p:0.979) between these two groups. In addition, the prevalence of UI (30.77% vs. 26.87%) and SUI (21.54% vs. 16.42%) in women with or without epidural analgesia was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PFM function and UI prevalence at 6 weeks postpartum are not significantly affected by epidural analgesia.
Authors: José Alberto Benítez-Andrades; María Teresa García-Ordás; María Álvarez-González; Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez; Ana F López Rodríguez Journal: Digit Health Date: 2022-07-05