Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37594200›Full record

ArticleActa obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica2023

One-year follow-up after standardized perineal reconstruction in women with deficient perineum after vaginal delivery.

Emilia Rotstein, Vilhelmina Ullemar, Hedvig Engberg, Angelica Lindén Hirschberg, Gunilla Ajne, Gunilla Tegerstedt

Open access · diamondAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Hyaluronidase for reducing perineal trauma.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2024
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Understanding and addressing female pelvic pain - a multifaceted challenge.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Emilia RotsteinDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-2529-9390
Vilhelmina UllemarDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Hedvig EngbergDepartment of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Angelica Lindén HirschbergDepartment of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Gunilla AjneDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Gunilla TegerstedtDepartment of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Karolinska University Hospital · SE

Funding

Karolinska Institutet
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPerineal tears are common after childbirth and, if not surgically repaired, they may result in a deficient perineum that can cause symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. Perineal reconstruction aims to restore the perineal body and increase the support of the pelvic floor. The objective of the present study was to estimate symptom reduction after perineal reconstruction in patients with deficient perineum after vaginal delivery and to compare outcomes between participants with or without concomitant levator ani muscle deficiency. MATERIAL AND

methodsParticipants presenting at the Karolinska Pelvic Floor Center with symptoms of deficient perineum at least 1 year after vaginal birth were invited to the study. Inclusion criteria were a visible perineal scar and confirmed anatomic defect. Levator ani defects were assessed using the Levator Ani Deficiency score. A perineal reconstruction was performed in a standardized way. Subjective symptoms were evaluated using the validated "Karolinska Symptoms After Perineal Tear Inventory" at baseline and 1-year follow-up. A score difference in the symptom of an acquired sensation of a wide vagina was the primary outcome. Results were stratified by the presence or absence of a levator ani deficiency.

resultsA perineal reconstruction was performed in 131 patients and 128 patients completed the Karolinska Symptoms After Perineal Tear Inventory at baseline and 119 at follow-up. Median age was 36.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 7.9), median body mass index 22.3 (IQR 5.1) and a median of two vaginal deliveries. Fifty-four women (41.2%) had a levator ani deficiency. The mean score reduction for the item "Do you feel that your vagina is too wide/loose?" was -1.56 (SD 0.96; P < 0.001) from a mean score of 2.75 (maximum 3) at baseline. The mean total score reduction was -9.1 points (SD 5.3; P < 0.001) from a mean score of 18.4 (maximum 33) points at baseline. There were no significant differences between groups when stratifying by levator ani deficiency.

conclusionsOur results show that perineal reconstructive surgery significantly decreases symptoms of deficient perineum after vaginal delivery. A concomitant levator ani defect does not affect the symptom reduction of an acquired sensation of a wide vagina or the total score reduction after surgery.

Indexed as

LacerationsPerineumAdultDelivery, ObstetricFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansPelvic FloorPregnancyVaginadeficient perineumlevator ani musclepatient-reported outcomespelvic floor dysfunctionperineal reconstructionsurgical technique

Identifiers

PMID37594200
PMCPMC10540923
OpenAlexW4385969474

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.