Study of Factors Associated with Postoperative Pain Following Episiotomy in Primiparous Women at Mashhad Omalbanin Hospital in 2012

Introduction

Episiotomy is a surgical incision in the perineal tissue to enlarge the perineal outlet for delivery (1). The main use of episiotomy is to minimize severe vaginal and perineal injuries (2). Although this procedure is being less applied in developed countries, it is still routinely performed on Asian women, who are

predisposed to extensive ruptures, given the short perineum and strict tissues (3).

No precise data exist regarding the prevalence of episiotomy in Iran. However, this rate is estimated to be high since this procedure is routinely performed at hospitals. In this regard, Khajavi (2009) reported that about 97.3% of episiotomies in Iran are performed in Tehran (3). Episiotomy in primiparous women was estimated at 88.32% (1769 individuals) at Mashhad Omolbanin Hospital in 2005 (2).

In Khajavi’s study, 32.3% and 67.7% of subjects underwent midline and mediolateral episiotomies, respectively, while in a study by Abraham et al., 67% and 33% of subjects underwent midline and mediolateral episiotomies, respectively. As it was revealed, mediolateral episiotomy is applied more frequently in Iran despite the associated complications (3, 5).

Perineal pain is the most common complaint of mothers after episiotomy. Khajavi (2009) reported the frequency of pain on days 1, 10, 40, and 90 after delivery as 96.4%, 63%, 25%, and 12%, respectively (6). Postoperative pain following episiotomy has been always stressful for primiparous women, with negative impacts on their first motherhood experience (7) and mother-child communication (8). This type of pain is one of the most common and influential factors for mothers’ function after childbirth, leading to urinary dysfunction, bowel elimination, dyspareunia, and marital problems (9).

Andrews reported the dyspareunia was present in 100% of subjects 10 days after delivery, which reduced to 65.9% on day 40 and 31.2% three months after delivery (10). Short-term perineal pain, accompanied by edema, bruising, stiffness of sutures, infection, wound adhesion, and long-term pain not only has negative impacts on women’s function for neonatal care and family responsibilities, but also has significant effects on biopsychosocial aspects of life. Consequently, this pain can lead to anxiety, excitability, furiosity, exhaustion, social isolation, depression, motor disorders, eating and sleep disorders, and problems of neonatal care while sitting, walking, breast feeding, and other activities.

Therefore, perineal pain not only causes physical trauma for mothers, but also results in emotional traumas and influences their quality of life, mental health, and mother-child communication (3, 5, 11-14). Therefore, for the faster recovery of mothers, perineal pain and discomfort should be eliminated (9).

Very few studies have investigated the relationship between the severity of perineal pain and childbirth-related and neonatal factors. In this regard, Khajavi studied the association between the duration of the first stage of labor and neonatal weight (5), Treano evaluated the duration of the second stage of labor (15), and Andrew (10), Carolyn (16), and MoArthur (17) assessed the association between perineal pain, grade of rupture, and perineal injuries.

Several methods are available for perineal pain relief and wound healing after delivery including pharmaceutical and non-pharma-ceutical methods such as providing perineal health care and keeping the perineum dry (2). Oral analgesics such as acetaminophen, aspirin, brufen, and diclofenac sodium are among the pharmaceutical agents (18), which impose expenses on health care systems and lead to severe side-effects for the users (19).

It seems that the determination of factors related to postoperative pain following episiotomy is necessary for decreasing mothers’ problems after labor, given the high prevalence of episiotomy, perineal pain, and the associated complications. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors associated with episiotomy pain in primiparous women in order to provide more efficient health care services for mothers.

Materials and methods

This descriptive, analytical study was conducted on 125 subjects, referring to Mashhad Omolbanin Hospital, who met the inclusion criteria. A pilot study was conducted and the correlation coefficient was calculated as r=0.25. Then, the simple size was determined regarding the correlation coefficient (α=0.05, β=0.2).

The inclusion criteria were as follows: 1) primiparity; 2) age range of 18-35 years; 3) living with the spouse; 4) 382; 5) cephalic presentation; 6) no symptomatic vaginal/vulvar infections (e.g., infectious discharge, itching, or burning); 7) no clear neonatal malformation or abnormality in neonates; 8) no severe rectocele (grade 2 or higher) or cystocele; 9) no septum or mass; 10) no prior history of gynecological problems; 11) non-use of acetaminophen suppositories over the last 6 hours before labor; and 12) no repairing surgery on the vagina or perineum.

The exclusion criteria were as follows: 1) disorders during labor progress; 2) prolonged second stage of labor (longer than 2 hours); 3) extended episiotomy and conversion of the wound to a 3^rd or 4^th grade rupture; 4) ruptures other than episiotomy; 5) abnormal vaginal bleeding; 6) Shoulder dystocia (when maneuvers used to relieve shoulder dystocia except Robert Mac maneuver; 7) manual removal of placenta; 8) hematoma; 9) sexual intercourse by the end of the study (15 days after delivery); 10) curettage or resection within the first 24 hoursafter delivery; 11) undesired events during the first 14 days after delivery; 12) postpartum fever; 13) infection of the episiotomy area; 14) taking analgesics 4 hours before pain assessment; 15) need for re-suturing in episiotomy after primary  repair of episiotomy; and 16) no need for episiotomy.

Six participants were excluded from the study; two of them experienced undesired events, one had a third-grade rupture, and three faced problems during labor progress. Finally, 119 participants were included in the study.

Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, constipation assessment scale for pregnancy, McGill Pain Questionnaire, Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, and Approxi-mation (REEDA) scale, and examination and recording forms including the form of inclusion/ exclusion criteria, demographic data (5 items), labor section (12 items), episiotomy-related factors (13 items), neonatal data (7 items), use of antibiotics and analgesics, and mother’s activity level.

The constipation assessment scale evaluated eight characteristics of stool status: abdominal distention or bloating, change in the amount of gas passed rectally, less frequent bowel movements, oozing liquid stool, rectal fullness or pressure, rectal pain with bowel movements, small volume of stool, and inability to pass stool. The score was calculated based on a 5-point scale, ranging between 0 and 4; the final score ranged between 0 and 32. Constipation severity was graded as follows: 0-8 (no problem or mild constipation), 9-16 (relative to moderate constipation), 17-24 (severe constipation), and 25-32 (very severe constipation).

Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire consisted of three sections; the first section included 15 descriptive words in two main sensitive and emotional categories. The score of each category was graded as follows: no pain=0, mild pain=1, moderate pain=2, and severe pain=3. The second section was the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ranging between 0 and 100. Finally, the third section was Present Pain Intensity (PPI), which was graded as follows: no pain=0, mild=1, discomfort=2, torturing=3, terrible=4, and painful=5. The total score was the summed up score of each section.

REEDA scale included 5 variables of redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, and approximation of wound edges. Each variable was scored between 0 and 3. The total score was calculated by summing the scores of 5 variables, ranging between 0 and 15; higher scores indicated less wound healing.

Validity of the questionnaires, as well as examination and recording forms was confirmed by content validity. Validity of McGill Pain Assessment was confirmed via criterion validity by making a comparison with VAS (r=0.854). Pazandeh (2008) has also confirmed the validity of REEDA (12).

 The reliability of examination and recording forms was also confirmed. Inter-rater reliability was used for confirming the reliability of the exclusion criteria, labor stages, and episiotomy-related form (r=0.87, r=0.94, r=0.89, respectively). The reliability of demographic and pregnancy-related questionnaire was confirmed by test-retest (r=0.89).

The reliability of constipation assessment scale (r=0.82) and REEDA (r=0.89) has been confirmed by Tabatabaee Chehr (2000) (20) and Pazandeh (2008) (12), respectively. The reliability of McGill Pain Assessment tool was also confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (r=0.911).

 Firstly, a written permission letter was obtained from the university ethics committee. The objectives of the study were explained to the participants, and informed consents were obtained from women in the active phase of labor, selected via convenience sampling.

At first, the demographic questionnaire and pregnancy-related form were completed. Mothers were transferred to the gynecology department and laid in the lithotomy position as soon as the active phase of labor started. If episiotomy was required, the midwife cleaned the vulva by Betadine (povidone iodine). As 3-4 cm of the fetal head was seen during contractions, 5 cc of lidocaine 2% was injected between two contractions, while two fingers kept the fetal head. Lidocaine was injected circularly along the cut and 4-5 cm of the perineum was subcutaneously anesthetized by a needle.

During the contractions, a cut was made from the middle of the frouchet for 3-4 cm, with an angle of 45° by a midwife, a midwifery student, or a gynecology resident. Afterwards, the neonate and placenta were delivered. The researcher was present during the first and second stages of labor, and the related data were observed and recorded. After delivery (the onset of the third stage), the researchers recorded the episiotomy-related data such as the length and depth of the cut, using a sterile swab and a graded ruler; the perineum was also observed for extending episiotomy.

The perineum was cleansed again after placing a tampon on the cut; it was important to prevent any contact between Betadine and the cut. For this purpose, 5 cc of lidocaine %2 was injected in the ruptured edges of the lozenge-shaped cut. The cutting area was anesthetized again and repaired by a catgut 0 or 2.0 in the lithotomy position by either a midwife, a midwifery student, or a gynecology resident.

In order to repair the episiotomy cut, suturing was started from 1-2 cm above the episiotomy cut. The vagina was continuously repaired and tied by catgut 0, close to the hymen. Separate sutures were made by catgut 0 in order to repair the perineal muscles; if necessary, muscular layers were separately sutured.

 The submucosal layer of the perineum was repaired toward the level of the hymen by continuous sutures and catgut 2.0; the skin was sutured by separate sutures (catgut 2.0). The researcher recorded the number of stitches, the type of thread, and the duration of repair during episiotomy. She also measured and recorded the data related to the third stage of labor, as well as the neonatal data.

After the repair of episiotomy, the researcher instructed the mothers about the required care for perineum and sutures, personal health, and completing the forms (the checklist of taking antibiotics, last dosage of analgesics, and physical activity). An instructive pamphlet was also provided for the mothers.

 Episiotomy pain assessment and perineal wound recovery assessment were conducted on the first day of delivery at the hospital and before discharge. Then, the mothers were asked to refer to Mashhad Omolbanin Hospital on days 7, 10, and 14 after delivery for assessing the perineal wound and postoperative pain following episiotomy.

McGill Pain Questionnaire was used for assessing episiotomy pain; this scale was completed by mothers. Also, REEDA scale was applied for the follow-up of episiotomy recovery. The mothers were asked to lie in the lithotomy position, while being examined by REEDA scale; then, the obtained results were recorded. Redness, edema, ecchymosis, and wound edge distance were measured by a graded ruler, and the wound discharge was also observed. Constipation scale was completed by mothers on days 7 and 10. All the participants were given special codes including the number of research unit, date of the follow-ups as a reminder, and the researcher’s telephone number.

Mothers were advised to contact the researcher in case they faced any problems. They were asked to hand in the completed forms as they came to the hospital; they could take analgesics, based on the given pamphlet (except 4 hours before referring to the hospital); if necessary, they were contacted on days 6, 9, and 13. If they did not refer to the hospital, the researcher visited the subject’s house. Also, if mothers experienced severe pain or showed improper wound healing, they were referred to physicians for diagnosis and treatment.

Spearman and Pearson’s correlation tests were performed, using SPSS version 16. P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In addition, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to evaluate the normality of the data.

Results

 The mean age of the participants was 25.27±20.26 years (age range: 18-35 years). The participants’ demographic characteristics are demonstrated in Table 1.

Based on the findings, no relationship was found between perineal care on days 1, 7, 10, and 14 after delivery and the participants’ demographic characteristics or pregnancy-related data (pregnancy care, wanted/unwanted pregnancy, and Kegel exercise), based on Spearman’s correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA results (P>0.05).

Based on one-way ANOVA, no significant correlation was detected between pain following episiotomy on days 1, 7, 10, and 14 after delivery and some childbirth-related variables such as taking Entonox, problems during labor progress, fetal head position at birth, use of Ritgen's maneuver, and mother’s opinion about the severity of labor pain  (P>0.05).

Table 2 demonstrates the correlation between other variables and episiotomy-induced pain. There was a direct significant correlation between the duration of the active phase during the second stage of labor and pain following episiotomy on day 10 after delivery (Table 2).

Based on Spearman and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests, no significant relationship was observed between episiotomy-related variables and episiotomy pain on days 1 and 14 (P>0.05). However, there was a significant correlation between pain following episiotomy on day 7, length of cut, and the number of stitches. Also, the number of stitches and episiotomy pain on day 10 were correlated (P<0.05) (Table 3).

 Spearman’s correlation coefficient and one-way ANOVA tests showed no significant relationship between neonatal variables (e.g., weight, height, head circumference, and gender) and episiotomy pain on days 1, 7, 10, and 14 (P>0.05). However, Pearson’s correlation coefficient test showed a direct significant correlation between neonatal weight and the severity of episiotomy pain on day 7 after delivery (P=0.04, r=0.225). Also, based on Spearman’s correlation coefficient test, no significant association was found between constipation scale score on days 7 (P=0.09) and 10 (P=0.740) and episiotomy pain on days 1, 7, 10, and 14 after delivery.

Moreover, based on Pearson and Spearman’s correlation tests, no significant relationship was found between pain severity on days 1, 7, 10, and 14 after delivery and the duration of walking, lying, sitting, and squatting during defecation, cross-leg sitting, or activities applying strain and tension on stitches during the first 10 days after delivery. Similarly, based on Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests, no significant association was found between the number of stairs climbed on the first 10 days after delivery and the severity of episiotomy pain on days 1, 7,10, and 14 after delivery.