Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42096063›Full record

ReviewInternational urogynecology journal2026

Role of Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Women with Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries: Narrative Review.

Cristina Ros, S Abbas Shobeiri, Montserrat Espuña-Pons

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in International urogynecology journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

3 authors.

Cristina RosGynecological Department, Urogynecology Unit, ICGON, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, C. Villarroel, 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain. cros@clinic.cat.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0455-6420
S Abbas ShobeiriDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA, USA.
Montserrat Espuña-PonsGynecological Department, Urogynecology Unit, ICGON, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, C. Villarroel, 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introduction and hypothesisObstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) are the main risk factor for postpartum anal incontinence (AI). All major scientific societies recommend follow-up in a perineal clinic to assess recovery and scarring, treat or prevent symptoms, and give advice about the subsequent mode of delivery.

methodsThis narrative review was conducted through a systematic search of the relevant literature with the aim of exploring the role of ultrasound in the follow-up of patients with OASI. The databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, using keywords such as "obstetric anal sphincter injuries," "anal incontinence," "endoanal ultrasound," "perineal pelvic floor ultrasound," "perineal clinic," and "mode of delivery." The search was limited to articles published in English up to December 2024, and included original research articles, reviews, and clinical guidelines. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers.

resultsA pelvic floor ultrasound (PFUS), including the anal sphincter complex, should be performed after vaginal delivery in all women with OASI and those at high risk of obstetric pelvic floor trauma. PFUS plays a key role in assessing the success of primary intrapartum repair. Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) is considered the gold standard; however, perineal or endovaginal approaches may be used as an alternative to identify sphincter complex abnormalities due to good testing accuracy and to determine which patients require further in-depth assessment with EAUS. The presence and severity of residual defects detected by PFUS are prognostic factors to determine optimal therapeutic management. PFUS is also useful in counseling patients regarding subsequent pregnancies, together with symptom assessment and patient preferences.

conclusionsIn patients with OASI, PFUS is useful for evaluating primary repair of OASI and guiding therapeutic management and subsequent pregnancies.

Indexed as

Anal incontinenceEndoanal ultrasoundMode of deliveryObstetric anal sphincter injuriesPerineal clinicPerineal pelvic floor ultrasound

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.