A Search for Novel Risk Factors for Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to evaluate factors associated with obstetric anal sphincter injury and identify modifiable risks. METHODS: A retrospective case-control study was performed in women who gave birth at our institution between May 2008 and December 2012. Patients who had a third- or fourth-degree lacerations were compared with those who did not. Parity, stretch marks, age, body mass index, tobacco use, fetal weight, operative delivery, labor, and second stage duration were compared between groups. Multivariate direct logistic regression was conducted on all patients who had complete data to calculate the adjusted odds ratio. RESULTS: We identified 299 patients with third- or fourth-degree lacerations and 8,459 patients without third- or fourth-degree lacerations during the time frame. Duration of second stage between 1 hour and 2 hours (P < 0.0001), duration of second stage greater than 2 hours (P < 0.0001), midline or unknown type episiotomy (P < 0.0001), mediolateral episiotomy (P < 0.0001), vacuum delivery (P < 0.0001), forceps delivery (P < 0.0001), fetal weight greater than 4,000 g (P < 0.0001), and antepartum stress urinary incontinence (P < 0.006) were associated with a significant increase in high-risk lacerations. This study did not find a statistically significant association between parity and these lacerations. CONCLUSIONS: We, as others, found that episiotomy and operative delivery were modifiable risks of obstetrical care. Furthermore, even a short second stage of labor (1-2 hours) was associated with significant risk of injury.

Morcellation and the Incidence of Occult Uterine Malignancy: A Dual-Institution Review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the incidence of unsuspected uterine sarcoma (UtSarc), other uterine malignancies, and potential malignancies at the time of hysterectomy or myomectomy using power morcellation. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of all women undergoing myomectomy or hysterectomy using power morcellation at 2 institutions between January 1, 2004, and May 31, 2015. The primary outcome was the incidence of uterine malignancy (UM). The predefined secondary outcome was the occurrence of other conditions associated with malignant behavior. For analysis, any UtSarc or endometrial cancer was categorized as a "uterine malignancy," whereas other pathologies with cytologic atypia were categorized as "uterine premalignant disease" (UPM). All other pathological results were classified as "nonmalignant." RESULTS: A total of 1004 women underwent hysterectomy or myomectomy using power morcellation during the studied period. Two women (1/502; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1/4144-1/139) were found to have UM pathology, 2 endometrial carcinomas and none with UtSarc (97.5% CI, 0-1/273). Six (1/167; 95% CI, 1/455-1/77) women were found to have UPM on final pathology: 2 atypical leiomyomas, 1 STUMP (smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential), and 3 endometrial atypical hyperplasias. Women with UM had uteri that weighed more than those with NM pathology (840 g vs 217.7 g, P = 0.028), and this trend was also seen with UM and UPM (435.0 g vs 217.2 g, P = 0.081). Women with UM and UPM were more likely to have a preoperative surgical indication of "uterine leiomyoma" compared with other benign etiologies (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Among this cohort, all cases of unsuspected UM at the time of myomectomy or hysterectomy using power morcellation were found to be endometrial carcinoma. Unsuspected UM pathology had an incidence of 1 of 502. Factors associated with increased likelihood of UM or UPM were greater uterine weight and leiomyoma as the surgical indication.