Comparison of Safety Between Intra-Dermal Versus Conventional Closure During Episiotomy in Terms of Complications

Abstract

Objective: The study aimed to compare intra-dermal and conventional closure of the episiotomy in terms of complications.

Methodology: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, RIHS, Islamabad, from January 2019 to December 2019. A total of 162 women were randomly assigned to receive either intradermal closure or conventional closure during episiotomy. The frequency of wound dehiscence and perineal pain was compared between the two groups using the chi-square test. Wound dehiscence and perineal pain were compared by a chi-square test between both groups at the level of significance of 0.05. A p-value equal to or less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The average age in group A (Intradermal closure) was 28.2 ± 4.8 years and in group B (Conventional closure) it was 27.9 ± 5.1. The overall mean gestational age was 39.23 ± 2.05 weeks. Wound dehiscence was present in 7.4% of cases in group A, and in 27.2% of patients in group B (p = 0.001). Perineal pain was reported in 6.2% of patients in group A compared to 30.9% of group B patients (p= 0.001).

Conclusion: Intradermal closure was associated with fewer complications of wound dehiscence and perineal pain than conventional closure during episiotomy in women undergoing vaginal delivery.