The impact of variations in obstetric practice on maternal birth trauma.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Forceps delivery and length of second stage are risk factors of maternal birth trauma, i.e., levator ani muscle (LAM) avulsion and anal sphincter trauma. The cesarean section (CS) rate has recently become the key performance indicator because of its increase worldwide. Attempts to reduce CS rates seem to have led to an increase in forceps deliveries and longer second stages. This study aimed to determine the association between variations in obstetric practice (between hospitals) and maternal birth trauma. METHODS: This was a retrospective ancillary analysis involving 660 nulliparous women carrying an uncomplicated singleton term pregnancy in a prospective perinatal intervention trial at two Australian tertiary obstetric units. They had been seen antenatally and at 3-6 months postpartum for a standardized clinical assessment between 2007 and 2014. Primary outcome measures were sonographically diagnosed LAM and external anal sphincter (EAS) trauma. RESULTS: The incidence of LAM avulsion (11.5% vs. 21.3%, P = 0.01) and composite trauma, i.e., LAM avulsion ± EAS injury (29.2% vs. 39.7%, P = 0.03) were higher in one of the two hospitals, where the forceps delivery rate was also higher (10.9% vs. 2.6%, P < 0.001). BMI (OR 0.9, P = 0.02), length of second stage (OR 1.01, P = 0.02) and forceps delivery (OR 5.24, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of the difference in LAM avulsion incidence between the hospitals. Maternal age (OR 1.06, P < 0.04) and forceps delivery (OR 8.66, P < 0.001) were significant predictors for composite trauma. CONCLUSIONS: A higher incidence of LAM avulsion and composite trauma in one of the two hospitals was largely explained by a higher forceps delivery rate.

Do women notice the impact of childbirth-related levator trauma on pelvic floor and sexual function? Results of an observational ultrasound study.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The levator ani is thought to play an important role in sexual function; however, to date little literature has been published on the impact of delivery-related levator trauma on female sexual function. We hypothesised that delivery-related levator trauma has a negative impact on women's reports of pelvic floor and sexual function postpartum. METHODS: In 294 primigravid women with a singleton pregnancy, four-dimensional (4D) translabial ultrasound imaging was used to assess delivery-related levator avulsion and levator hiatal over-distension, and postpartum pelvic floor and sexual function was assessed by an in-house validated questionnaire. Associations between questionnaire responses and levator avulsion and hiatal over-distension were investigated using standard linear modelling methods. RESULTS: Levator avulsion was diagnosed in 14% of women (42 out of 292; 25 unilateral, 17 bilateral) and was found to be significantly associated with lower scores for the pelvic floor integrity and function domain of the questionnaire (P < 0.0005). Avulsion was associated with lower scores for this domain (no avulsion = 2.78, unilateral avulsion = 2.61, bilateral avulsion = 2.29). This association remained significant after controlling for potential confounders (p = 0.013). Avulsion was not associated with any of the other domains of sexual function and levator hiatal over-distension was not associated with scores for any of the questionnaire domains. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of levator avulsion on pelvic floor and sexual function an average of 5.2 months after childbirth seems to be limited to a perception of increased vaginal and pelvic floor muscle laxity, and reduced pelvic floor muscle efficiency. The impact of levator hiatal over-distension on postpartum pelvic floor and sexual function appears to be negligible.