, İçten Olgu Bafali 2
, Mete Can Ateş 3
, Baki Erdem 1
, Nadiye Köroğlu 1
, Onur Karaaslan 4
2Suluova State Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Amasya, Turkey
3University of Health Sciences, Ankara Dr. Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Training and Research Hospital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey
4Hakkari State Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hakkari, Turkey
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the effect of the timing of episiotomy repair on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 307 pregnant women who delivered vaginally and underwent mediolateral episiotomy in a tertiary-care hospital. In Group I, the repair of the episiotomy was started while the placenta was still inside. In Group II, spontaneous delivery of the placenta was waited, and then the repair was initiated. The primary outcome was the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. Secondary outcomes were the mean blood loss, postpartum 24th hour hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels, mean Hb and Hct change, and the need for transfusion.
Results: The rate of postpartum hemorrhage (>500 mL) did not differ significantly between the two groups (5.2% in Group I vs. 6.5% in Group II, p=0.62). The mean blood loss did not differ significantly between the two groups (206±120 mL in Group I vs. 210±134 mL in Group II, p=0.76). There was no statistical difference between the two groups regarding postpartum Hb and Hct levels, mean Hb and Hct change, and the need for transfusion.
Discussion: Timing of episiotomy repair has no effect on the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary hospital.