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Risk factors and outcome of repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries as followed up in a dedicated perineal clinic

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A Commentary to this article was published on 20 June 2019

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Faecal incontinence can be a devastating outcome with social, psychological and physical repercussions, and it occurs in 10–61% following obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS). The aim of our study was to determine the contributing factors in the development of severity of OASIS and to correlate anal sphincter tone with the extent of anal sphincter injury.

Methods

A prospective cohort study was performed of all patients attending the postnatal perineal clinic at 4–12 months postpartum, from January 2016 until October 2017. Women were categorised into minor tears (3a and 3b) and major tears (3c and 4th degree).

Results

The mean age was 33.9 years (4.2); the mean parity was 1.6 (range 1–5). A total of 75 women (17%) were reviewed following a major tear (4th degree, n = 28, 3c, n = 47) and 362 (83%) were reviewed following a minor tear (3a n = 188, 3b, n = 174). Following analysis of numerous obstetric variables, it was shown that women who had an instrumental delivery were more likely to have a major tear compared with those who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery (p = 0.05). A significant difference was found in the distributions of symptom score between groups (p < 0.001). Women with combined defects were most likely to have reduced anal tone (p < 0.001) compared with any other group.

Conclusions

The perineal clinic provides a valuable resource for investigation and treatment of OASIS, providing a targeted pathway for management. We suggest that endoanal ultrasound and digital rectal examination are complimentary investigations which correlate well with each other.

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Acknowledgements

This study describes original work and has not been submitted for consideration by any other journal. All authors have approved the manuscript and its submission. All authors have contributed substantially to obtaining and analysing data obtained for this study. All authors have had input both drafting and revision of the article and final approval of the version published.

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  1. National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Breffini Anglim, Linda Kelly & Myra Fitzpatrick

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  1. Breffini Anglim
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Correspondence to Breffini Anglim.

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Anglim, B., Kelly, L. & Fitzpatrick, M. Risk factors and outcome of repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries as followed up in a dedicated perineal clinic. Int Urogynecol J 30, 1649–1655 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03960-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03960-7

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