Impact of episiotomy on anal incontinence following second- to fourth-degree perineal tears-A cohort study.

INTRODUCTION

Anal incontinence can have a significant negative impact on quality of life. The leading cause of anal incontinence among women of child-bearing age is obstetric-related perineal injury. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of episiotomy on the incidence of anal incontinence among primiparous women with second-, third-, or fourth-degree perineal tears at 8 weeks and 1 year postpartum and to assess change in incidence over time across varying degrees of perineal tears.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

This Swedish cohort study included 12 658 primiparous women who sustained a second- (n = 5309), third- (n = 6771), or fourth-degree tear (n = 578), either spontaneously or in association with an episiotomy, between 2014 and 2019. Data were collected from national health and quality registers. The primary outcomes assessed were fecal and gas incontinence at 1 year postpartum. Secondary outcomes included lifestyle alteration and Wexner score. Logistic regression analyses were performed, and results were presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using spontaneous tear as the reference group. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index, prepregnancy diabetes, gestational age, mode of delivery, length of the second stage, fetal presentation, birth weight, and head circumference.

RESULTS

The incidence of gas incontinence 1 year after second-, third-, or fourth-degree tears was 11.0%, 23.6%, and 37.8%, respectively. The incidence of fecal incontinence was 1.8%, 5.2%, and 14.5% for loose stool, and 0.8%, 2.1%, and 6.6% for solid stool, respectively. Women with a second-degree tear and episiotomy had an adjusted OR of 1.26 (95% CI 1.02-1.55) for gas incontinence and 1.38 (95% CI 0.90-2.10) for fecal incontinence at 1 year postpartum. Episiotomy did not increase the risk of anal incontinence among women with third-degree and fourth-degree tears. Anal incontinence, lifestyle changes, and Wexner score decreased over time across all types of tears.

CONCLUSIONS

Anal incontinence increases with the severity of perineal tears; however, the risk of incontinence is primarily determined by the grade of injury rather than the presence or absence of an episiotomy. Symptoms decline over time across all degrees of tears.