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Conservative Treatment or Resuturing Among Women With Perineal Wound Dehiscence After Vaginal Labour

Dehisced Perineal Tear After Vaginal Labour (HEAL) - Conservative Treatment or Resuturing

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06026423
Acronym
HEAL
Enrollment
300
Registered
2023-09-07
Start date
2023-09-15
Completion date
2026-09-01
Last updated
2023-09-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dehiscence Wound, Episiotomy; Dehiscence, Secondary Perineal Tear

Keywords

Dehiscence, Secondary Perineal Tear, Episiotomy

Brief summary

The goal of this observational study is to make us more aware of the short and long-term outcomes for women having an uncomplicated healing process after a rupture or birth cut in the perineum after giving birth in relation to a healing process with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management or secondary suturing. Participants will be asked to do * A gynecological examination at one month after birth and 9-12 months after birth. * Have a picture taken of the healing process * Answer a questionnaire at one month, three months, and 9-12 months after birth

Detailed description

The best way to manage perineal wound dehiscence after childbirth is unknown. Currently, there is no agreed best practice recommendation for managing perineal wound dehiscence due to a lack of evidence comparing conservative management with secondary suturing. Therefore, studies are urgently needed to compare the benefits and risks of both treatments. This study has the potential to significantly impact women´s health for those suffering from perineal wound dehiscence. The investigators want to include 100 women who have had a primary repair of a second-degree tear or episiotomy with a normal/uncomplicated healing process, 100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy identified with a dehisced wound treated with secondary resuturing, and 100 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy identified with a dehisced wound treated with conservative management. All women who meet the inclusion criteria are recommended the same treatment and follow-up as currently present as standard care at the four hospitals that the investigators are recruiting from. The study deviates from the standard of care by offering two extra clinical examinations, one questionnaire evaluation without clinical examination, and a follow-up with pictures of the perineal tear healing process.

Interventions

OTHERClinical examination and pictures

A clinical examination is needed to assess the healing process for the three groups. After assessing the healing process, we will take pictures of the tear for documentation.

OTHERQuestionnaire

The participant will answer questions, serving as a baseline questionnaire, when arriving at the clinical examination one month post-partum. At three and 9-12 months post-postpartum, they will receive another questionnaire. The questionnaire will consist of validated questions regarding body image, pain, Urogynecological problems as symptoms of prolapse, urinary and anal incontinence, and questions about sexual problems.

Sponsors

Herlev Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Women with a vaginal delivery who have had a primary repair of a second-degree perineal tear or episiotomy * At least 18 years old * Able to understand, read and speak Danish or English * Able to give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* None, first, third- and fourth-degree tear * Cesarean Section

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Body image9-12 monthsMeasured by the Body-Image questionnaire FGSIS - Female Genital Self-Image Scale

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Infection rateOne monthThe proportion of women with an infected wound until one month post-partum assessed by clinical examination and measured by REEDA scale
Resuming sexual intercourseOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsMeasured by the PISQ-12 questionnaire which is a short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12)
DyspareuniaOne month, three months, and 9-12monthsMeasured by the PISQ-12 questionnaire which is a short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ-12)
Woman´s satisfaction with the aesthetic results of the perineal woundOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsSelf-reported. The woman will be asked if she is satisfied with the aesthetic results of the perineal wound
Affected breastfeedingOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsThe woman will be asked whether she is breastfeeding or not
Re-admissionWithin one monthThe women will be asked whether they have been readmitted to the hospital and why within four weeks p.p.
Wound healingOne monthThe proportion of women with healed wounds at one month post-partum assessed by clinical examination and REEDA scale (Redness, Oedema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation of the wound edges). The REEDA scale contains five criteria each receiving a score between 0 and 3. The total score range from 0 - 15 with lower scores representing better-wound healing
Urinary incontinenceOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsMeasured by the ICIQ-UI SF questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF)
Fecal incontinenceOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsMeasured by ICIQ-B questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Bowel (ICIQ-B)
Psychological well-being (maternal anxiety or depression)Three months, and 9-12 monthsMeasured by Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). EPDS is a self-assessment questionnaire consisting of ten statements and the respondent is asked about their feelings over the last seven days. The answers are scored from 0-3 which gives an endpoint from 0-30. In Denmark, women are said to have depressive symptoms after delivery if they score 11 or higher
Pain intensityOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsSelf-reported pain intensity measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS-score). Numeric rating scale from 0-10 (0 = no pain - 10 = pain as bad as can be)
Consuming painkillers because of pain due to perineal tearOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsThe participant will be asked whether she is consuming painkillers because of pain due to a perineal tear (Yes/No)
Pelvic floor muscle contractionOne month and 9-12 monthsMeasured by Modified Oxford scale
ProlapseOne month, three months, and 9-12 monthsMeasured by ICIQ-VS questionnaire which is a short form of the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Vaginal Symptoms (ICIQ-VS)

Countries

Denmark

Contacts

Primary ContactLærke V. Moestrup, PhD student
laerke.vinberg.moestrup@regionh.dk+45 21351767
Backup ContactHanna M. Jangö, MD, PhD
hanna.margareta.jangoe@regionh.dk+45 38381612

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026