Dolor pélvico en mujeres con episiotomía versus mujeres con desgarro perineal de segundo grado

Abstract

Introduction

Pelvic pain is one of the most common pelvic floor dysfunctions in the postpartum period, depending on the degree of injury and the time at which it is assessed. The degree of involvement of a mediolateral episiotomy is similar to that of a second degree perineal tear, therefore it was decided to conduct a study to collect the degree of pain reported using the McGill Pain Questionnaire.

Material and methods

An observational, prospective longitudinal epidemiological study of dynamic cohorts was conducted among 384 women, of whom 255 had a second-degree tear and 129 had undergone an episiotomy. An assessment of the pelvic floor was carried out, together with data collection (performance or not of perineal massage, pelvic floor muscle exercises, presence of Kristeller, type of suture) as well as the degree and type of pain using the McGill Questionnaire, in the immediate puerperium, at six weeks, and six months of postpartum.

Results

In the immediate puerperium more than 50% of women reported some type of painful sensation, without finding significant differences between both cohorts. However, as the study evolved, there was a progressive decrease in pain in both cohorts. By six weeks postpartum, less than 33% of women reported a painful sensation, considered as absence of pain according to the criteria of the McGill questionnaire.

Conclusion

The presence of episiotomy or second degree perineal tear was not related to perineal pain.