Efectos de la episiotomía sobre las lesiones obstétricas del esfínter anal. Una revisión bibliográfica

Abstract

Obstetric sphincter injuries are a significant source of morbidity in the obstetrics population, as more than half of those affected report long-term anal incontinence. ObjectiveTo determine the effects of episiotomy on obstetric lesions of the anal sphincter. Material and methodsIn order to perform this review, a search made in April 2017 in the Medline and Scopus databases, using “episiotomy” as the Mesh descriptor, and the words, “obstetric anal sphincter injury”. ResultsA total of 23 and 91 results were obtained in Medline and Scopus, respectively, and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 3 Medline and 12 Scopus articles were selected. DiscussionThe results were analysed according to the type of study, sample size, type of episiotomy performed and the protocol used for it, whether liberal or restrictive. Inclusion and exclusion criteria applied in studies, and the obstetric, demographic and maternal characteristics, including type of delivery, gestational and maternal age, ethnicity, parity, epidural type, the duration of the second stage of labour, maternal and foetal size. ConclusionsEpisiotomy seems to be a protective factor for obstetric lesions of the anal sphincter.