Impact of subsequent birth and delivery mode for women with previous OASIS: Systemic review

Abstract

Background: For women who are of reproductive age, the most common cause of anal incontinence is obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS). We aimed to assess the subsequent delivery mode effects on quality of life and anal incontinence in women who had a history of OASIS. Method: Searches were done using the selection criteria of any study evaluating the effect of a second birth on quality of life and anal incontinence in women who had previously experienced OASIS, the search includes studies published to the end of 2022 in EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PubMed. Result: In addition to one item from outside sources, we gathered 911 articles by looking through electric databases. Finally, after filtering, we included seven complete articles to the review. Low AI measurement scores before a second delivery were revealed to be a strong predictor of normal continence following a later birth (An et al., 2014). In a prospective cohort research after first sphincter repair, according to Reid et al., (2014) in a follow-up period of 3 years, symptoms of AI were more prevalent in women who underwent recurrent caesarean sections. Studies by Fitzpatrick et al., (2016), Jordan et al., (2014), and Naidu et al., (2015) showed that women who delivered in the advised way afterward did not have a worsening symptom of AI. Conclusion: The existing guideline of a second vaginal delivery for women with a history of OASIS who do not exhibit AI symptoms or sphincter abnormalities is supported by this systematic review.