SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2007
Enemas during labour.
Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2007. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Enemas during labour.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2013Pooled it
- How to reduce the potential risk of vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during vaginal delivery?European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology · 2020Article
- First do no harm - interventions during labor and maternal satisfaction: a descriptive cross-sectional study.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2018Article
- Development of quality of care indicators from systematic reviews: the case of hospital delivery.Implementation science : IS · 2013Article
Corrections and comments
- Updated by
- Update of
Authors and funding
3 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe use of enemas during labour usually reflects the preference of the attending healthcare provider. However, enemas may cause discomfort for women and increase the costs of delivery.
objectivesTo assess the effects of enemas applied during the first stage of labour on infection rates in mothers and newborns, duration of labour, perineal wound dehiscence in the mother, perineal pain and faecal soiling. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (March 2007), PubMed (1966 to December 2006), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness (The Cochrane Library 2006, Issue 4), clinical trials registers (December 2006) and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in which an enema was administered during the first stage of labour and which included assessment of possible neonatal or puerperal morbidity or mortality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors assessed studies for inclusion independently. MAIN
resultsThree RCTs (1765 women) met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed no significant differences for infection rates in puerperal women (2 RCTs; 594 women; relative risk (RR) 0.66, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.04) or newborn children (1 RCT; 370 newborns; RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.67) after one month of follow up. No significant differences were found in the incidence of lower or upper respiratory tract infections. One trial described labour to be significantly shorter with enema versus no enema (1 RCT, 1027 women; 409.4 minutes versus 459.8 minutes; weighted mean difference (WMD) -50,40 CI 95% -75.68 to -25.12; P < 0.001), but another, adjusted for parity, did not confirm this (median 515 minutes with enemas versus 585 minutes without enemas, P = 0.24). Two trials found no significant differences in neonatal umbilical infection (2 RCTs; 592 newborns; RR 3.16 95% CI 0.50 to 19.82). The one trial that researched women's views found no significant differences in satisfaction between groups. AUTHORS'
conclusionsThe evidence provided by the three included RCTs shows that enemas do not have a significant effect on infection rates such as perineal wound infection or other neonatal infections and women's satisfaction. This evidence does not support the routine use of enemas during labour; therefore, such practice should be discouraged.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.