Early re-suturing of dehisced obstetric perineal wounds: A 13-year experience

Three-Dimensional Transperineal Ultrasound Guiding Early Secondary Repair of Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury in an Incontinent Patient without Suture Dehiscence

We present the case of a 36-year-old primigravida who gave birth to a 3200 g baby by vacuum-assisted (Kiwi OmniCup™) operative vaginal delivery with mediolateral episiotomy. A "y"-shaped perineal tear with a grade IIIC obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) was diagnosed and repaired. Two days after delivery, in the absence of suture dehiscence, she started experiencing complete anal incontinence. A decision was made in association with a proctologic surgeon for an early secondary repair. Before surgery, a Three-dimensional transperineal ultrasound (TPUS) was performed. The exam revealed a major defect of the external anal sphincter at the 11 o'clock position. This allowed for the reopening of only a circumscribed area of the perineal suture and repair of the sphincters using the end-to-end technique. The symptoms regressed completely, and follow-up TPUS demonstrated the gradual wound healing process. Anal incontinence, secondary to obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI), has a severe negative impact on women's quality of life. TPUS is an effective method to detect sphincter defects and monitor the healing process. This report investigates the feasibility of identifying the sphincter tear in an incontinent puerperal patient without suture dehiscence in order to target early secondary repair while minimizing its extent. TPUS has proven a safe and effective tool to guide early secondary repair of symptomatic OASI complications while minimizing the invasiveness of the procedure. Multidisciplinary management is crucial to ensure the adequate standard of care.

Management of postpartum perineal wound complications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Perineal wound complications occur in up to 25% of postpartum patients. Wound complications are most common after obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) but can occur after any laceration. It is imperative that any provider caring for postpartum patients understand the best evidence-based practices to recognize and manage these complications. We present a review of the available literature on the management of postpartum perineal wound complications.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is a paucity of new publications on the management of postpartum perineal wound complications, despite an increased emphasis on postpartum recovery in women's health. The role of topical estrogen in healing of perineal wounds was investigated in a pilot study, demonstrating that granulation tissue does express estrogen receptors, and the use of estrogen increases cell proliferation. Progression of perineal wound healing by secondary intention was evaluated in an observational study. Wound healing was delayed in 30% of women, with the initial wound area, perimeter, bacterial colonization, and OASIS being associated with delayed healing.

SUMMARY

Evidence based practices on timing of follow-up, addressing wound care and analgesia, administrating antibiotics, timing secondary repair, and surgical technique all play a role in optimizing recovery and reducing morbidity in patients with postpartum perineal wound complications.

Perineal resuturing versus conservative treatment for dehisced perineal wounds and episiotomies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Perineal wound dehiscence is associated with complications, such as infections, perineal pain, dyspareunia, and altered sexual function, that severely affects women's health. Currently, few studies have examined secondary repair of first- and second-degree perineal wound dehiscence and episiotomies, and there is currently no consensus on the optimal treatment option for dehisced perineal wounds. The objective was to evaluate whether resuturing or conservative treatment of first- and second-degree dehisced perineal wounds and episiotomies is the optimal treatment modality in terms of postoperative healing time and other secondary outcomes.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was carried out using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. All included studies were evaluated using the SIGN methodology checklist, with the purpose of assessing the study quality.

RESULTS

Three randomized controlled trials were included. Only two small sample-sized studies presented data regarding healing time for both the resuturing and the conservative treatment groups. However, no significant difference was found between the two groups at 4-6 weeks' healing time (RR 1.16, 95% CI 0.53-2.52). One study found that women being resutured experienced a significantly reduced healing time and higher satisfaction with the appearance of the wound healing at 3 months compared with the conservative treatment group.

CONCLUSION

We found no significant differences in the healing time between the resuturing group and the conservative treatment group. However, the sample sizes of the studies were small. A well-designed, large, and prospective randomized controlled trial is needed to evaluate the optimal treatment modality for dehisced perineal wounds.

Use of Autologous Platelet Rich Plasma (A-PRP) for Postpartum Perineal Repair Failure: A Case Report

Perineal wound dehiscence is an uncommon but important postpartum complication. In many cases, it leads to extreme pain and urinary and defecation problems. For up to several weeks, it can interfere with the mother’s daily activity, affecting psychosexual health and body image. The best way to manage perineal wound breakdown (resuturing vs. spontaneous closure) after childbirth remains controversial. A-PRP is the autologous human plasma containing an increased platelet concentration, rich in growth factors, and mediators with hemostatic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It accelerates the natural healing process. Even though A-PRP is widely used in orthopedics and dermatology, its use in gynecological injuries is limited. We describe here a case of a woman with postpartum perineal dehiscence treated with A-PRP with positive outcomes.