Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Introduction
Few prospective studies have revealed the long-term neuromuscular alterations of pelvic floor after vaginal delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of episiotomy on the electrical activity of pelvic floor muscle 2 years following vaginal delivery, and explore the relation between surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitudes and urinary incontinence.Material and methods
A total of 427 primiparous women with full-term singleton vaginal delivery were included in the cohort and 362 with no further births within the 2 year follow-up completed observations. Of these, 200 underwent episiotomy and 162 underwent nonepisiotomy. Clinical demographic characteristics, vaginal EMG variables and urinary incontinence-specific questionnaire scores were collected at 6 weeks, 6, 12 and 24 months after childbirth, respectively. Primary outcomes were the comparison of sEMG values between the episiotomy and nonepisiotomy groups throughout 2 years. Secondary outcomes were the correlation between sEMG of both groups and the incidence and severity of urinary incontinence. Spearman's correlation analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test and ANOVA with Bonferroni correction were used to analyze the variables.Results
Amplitude of maximal fast and endurance contractions on sEMG in the episiotomy group was significantly lower than the nonepisiotomy counterpart. Such difference of sEMG persisted for a long period after birth: endurance contraction, 33.12 ± 8.92 vs 35.085 ± 9.98, p < 0.01 at 24 months, and fast contraction, 36.53 ± 8.87 vs 39.05 ± 9.98, p = 0.01 at 12-month. Although there was no significant difference in incidence and severity of urinary incontinence between both groups, a negative correlation existed between EMG values of muscle contraction and urinary incontinence symptoms throughout.Conclusions
Primiparous women delivered with episiotomy demonstrated lower contractile sEMG activity of pelvic floor muscle in the long term. The lower sEMG values of fast contraction were associated with urinary incontinence symptoms.
SUBMITTER: Min L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9889321 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

Min Li L Xudong Dong D Qiubo Lyu L Pingping Li L Yuhan Lyu L Guifang Zhang Z Tianzi Gai G Qing Feng F Chunxue Yang Y Yaxin Liang L
Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica 20221129 2
<h4>Introduction</h4>Few prospective studies have revealed the long-term neuromuscular alterations of pelvic floor after vaginal delivery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of episiotomy on the electrical activity of pelvic floor muscle 2 years following vaginal delivery, and explore the relation between surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitudes and urinary incontinence.<h4>Material and methods</h4>A total of 427 primiparous women with full-term singleton vaginal delivery were in ...[more]