Commentary on “Risk factors and outcome of repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries as followed up in a dedicated perineal clinic”

Excerpt

This was a prospective cohort study of all patients attending a postnatal perineal clinic 4–12 months postpartum. This study took place between January 2016 and October 2017 at the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin. Women attending the perineal clinic completed the St. Mark Questionnaire. This questionnaire scores symptoms of flatus, solid and liquid stool incontinence. It also accounts for alterations in lifestyle, the need for constipating agents and the degree of faecal urgency. Women underwent endoanal ultrasound and a digital rectal examination. The authors collected demographic data including maternal age, parity at time of delivery, mode of delivery, use of mediolateral episiotomy, induction, epidural anaesthesia, length of second stage of labour, occipito-posterior position, shoulder dystocia and birth weight. …