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Perineal injury is the most common maternal obstetric complication associated with vaginal delivery (1). It is estimated that perineal lacerations of first and second degree occur in 38% of spontaneous vaginal deliveries in primiparous and in 36% in multiparous women (2). The perineal traumas are associated with significant maternal morbidity, including pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, genital prolapses, dyspareunia, physical and psychological damage (3,4). Episiotomy is a surgical procedure used in obstetrics to increase vaginal opening with an incision in the perineum at end of the second stage of vaginal delivery. However, this procedure is commonly used improperly as routine in the delivery attendance in many health services. For a successful vaginal delivery, the vaginal opening should slowly dilate in order to allow stretching because when the baby descends rapidly, the tissues can tear (11). The degree of muscle stretching or distension in the vaginal delivery may lead to pelvic floor muscle trauma (12). Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine, with impacts on women in terms of their quality of life, and is considered a social and hygiene problem (16). The muscle strength of the pelvic floor is important for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. EPI-NO is a device that was invented by a German obstetrician in order to prepare and train the pelvic floor for normal delivery. The purpose of this study is to verify the effect of 10 sessions of pelvic floor elongation with Epi-No in the prevention of urinary incontinence and dyspareunia 6 months after delivery.
The control group (G1) will be composed of women over 18 years of age attended by Lucila Balalai Municipal Maternity in Londrina. Recruitment will be done through a chart review, which will include single-fetus primiparous that delivered on full term without intercurrence (between 37 and 42 weeks). After birth they will receive project information while still hospitalized and are scheduled for evaluation 5 months after delivery if they consent to participate in the project. The study group (G2) will be composed of women over 18 years of age, primigravidae, between 30 and 32 weeks of gestation attended by the Basic Health Units of the central region of Londrina. Only those who agree to participate in the study and sign the free and informed consent form (Appendix 1) will be included.
Group one will be evaluated before the intervention (between 30th and 32nd week) and 6 months after delivery. The control group will be evaluated only once in the sixth month after delivery. The evaluators will be blind and the evaluation will be composed by:
The pregnant women will perform 10 sessions (twice a week for 5 weeks) of perineal preparation with the Epi-No device (pressure gauge connected to an inflatable soda that simulates the baby's head the vaginal canal). The evaluations and sessions of Epi-No will be individual and will take place in the research laboratory of the physiotherapy outpatient clinic of the University Hospital of Londrina.
The protocol was developed by a group of researchers based on the suggestions of already developed studies and clinical practice. After the introduction of the deflated probe (only the first half of the device), it is minimally inflated until the perception in the vaginal canal. The first 5 minutes will be for perception of the pelvic floor with contraction and relaxation with the purpose of toning and maintaining muscular strength, followed by 15 minutes of perineal elongation respecting the tolerance of the pregnant woman. After 20 minutes in total, the pregnant woman relaxes so that the inflated device leaves gently of her vaginal cavity and the physiotherapist helps at that moment. After the device is removed, note the circumference reached on the day.
After the procedure the pregnant woman sits on the ball and performs some contractions of perineum to relieve the eventual sensation of burning.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No Intervention | The control group (G1) will be composed of puerperal women over 18 years of age attended by Lucila Balalai Municipal Maternity in Londrina. Recruitment will be done through a chart review, which will include single-fetus primiparous that delivered on full term without intercurrence (between 37 and 42 weeks). | |
| Epino Group | Experimental | The study group (G2) will be composed of women over 18 years of age, primigravidae, between 30 and 32 weeks of gestation attended by the Basic Health Units of the central region of Londrina. Only those who agree to participate in the study and sign the free and informed consent form will be included. |
|
| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epino | Device | The pregnant women will perform 10 sessions (twice a week for 5 weeks) of perineal preparation with the Epi-No device (pressure gauge connected to an inflatable soda that simulates the baby's head the vaginal canal). After the introduction of the deflated probe (only the first half of the device), it is minimally inflated until the perception in the vaginal canal. The first 5 minutes will be for perception of the pelvic floor with contraction and relaxation with the purpose of toning and maintaining muscular strength, followed by 15 minutes of perineal elongation respecting the tolerance of the pregnant woman. After 20 minutes in total, the pregnant woman relaxes so that the inflated device leaves gently of her vaginal cavity and the physiotherapist helps at that moment. After the device is removed, note the circumference reached on the day. |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Urinary Incontinence questionnaire | score of validated questionnaire | 6 months after delivery |
| Dyspareunia questionnaire | score of validated questionnaire | 6 months after delivery |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic floor strength | number measured by intravaginal perineometry | 6 months after delivery |
| Quality of life score | score of validated questionnaire |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| SILVIO HM ALMEIDA, DOCTOR | State University of Londrina | Study Chair |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universidade Estadual de Londrina | Londrina | ParanĂ¡ | 86057-970 | Brazil |
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| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D004414 | Dyspareunia |
| D014549 | Urinary Incontinence |
| ID | Term |
|---|---|
| D005831 | Genital Diseases, Female |
| D052776 | Female Urogenital Diseases |
| D005261 | Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications |
| D000091642 | Urogenital Diseases |
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|
|
| 6 months after delivery |
| D000091662 | Genital Diseases |
| D005832 | Genital Diseases, Male |
| D012735 | Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological |
| D052801 | Male Urogenital Diseases |
| D020018 | Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological |
| D001523 | Mental Disorders |
| D014555 | Urination Disorders |
| D014570 | Urologic Diseases |
| D059411 | Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms |
| D020924 | Urological Manifestations |
| D012816 | Signs and Symptoms |
| D013568 | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms |