Dry Heat Versus Sitz Bath On Episiotomy Wound Heating And Pelvic Pain

Objective: To compare the effect of dry heat versus moist heat application on episiotomy wound healing and pain among postnatal mothers.

Research hypothesis H0: Postnatal mothers who apply dry heat on their episiotomy wound experience the same wound healing and pain as those who apply moist heat.

H1: Postnatal mothers who apply dry heat on their episiotomy wound experience faster wound healing and less pain than those who apply moist heat.

H2: Postnatal mothers who apply moist heat on their episiotomy wound experience faster wound healing and less pain than those who apply dry heat.

A quasi-experimental study was carried out at Abu EL-Matamer Central Hospital and Housh Issa Central Hospital. A sample of 100 postnatal women were randomly assigned into two equal groups. Women in the control group received the moist heat, which entails; sitting in a warm water tub up to the hip level. While, the study group were subjected to infra red-light therapy that supplies radiant heat or infra-red rays to produce heat to the episiotomy wound.

Women who fulfilled the criteria from the postnatal inpatient ward at Abu EL-Matamer Central Hospital and Housh Issa Central Hospital in El-Beheira Governorate. Each woman was randomly assigned to one of the (dry heat or moist heat) groups. The researchers explained the aim of the study to every woman, and then her consent to participate in the study was obtained.

All study subjects were individually interviewed by the researchers on the first two hours after delivery during hospital stay to collect the basic data, episiotomy pain intensity was assessed by, as well as the researchers inspect the episiotomy site for Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge and Approximation of the wound edges using REEDA scale within 2 hours after episiotomy repair to evaluate wound healing (Pretest).

After the assessment the researchers provided clear and concise information through illustrative pamphlet for the both groups.

Dry heat group included 50 postnatal women they were encouraged to place an infrared lamp at distance of 45 cm from the perineum and the heat produced with 230 volts for ten minutes. But the mother is checked after the first five minutes to make sure that she was not being burned. The researchers were demonstrated for each woman how to use infrared lamp, and it was followed by re demonstrations and discussions. After 12 hours of episiotomy this procedure was carried out in the morning and evening for ten consecutive days. The researcher gives the infrared lamp device for each woman then restore it after completion of the study.

Moist heat group included 50 postnatal women they were encouraged to sit in a basin (tub) of warm water (45 o C -59 o C) without pressure on the perineum and with the feet flat on the floor for 10 minutes. The researchers were demonstrated for each woman how to do warm sitz bath, and it was followed by re demonstrations and discussions. After 12 hours of episiotomy this procedure was carried out in the morning and evening for ten consecutive days.

At the end of the session the researchers gave each woman health education about the importance of follow-up to ensure woman compliance for the interventions they assigned to it and to assess wound healing. The researchers motivated the women to perform the interventions they assigned to it through daily telephone calls by reminding the women with its benefits and importance of follow up.

Follow up: Women of the two groups were instructed to come to the obstetric outpatient clinic at Abu EL-Matamer Central Hospital and Housh Issa Central Hospital for follow up visits during the morning shift on the 5th and 10th day post-partum, the perineal area was observed for redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge and approximation of the skin as well as perineal pain. During each follow up visit the researchers had evaluated the episiotomy pain intensity using and episiotomy wound healing.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Primipara
* First 2 hours after delivery
* Have a normal vaginal delivery
* Have episiotomy
* complaining of perineal discomfort (pain)
* Having a telephone for contact

Exclusion Criteria:

* The women who were
* use any pain-relieving drug
* labor complications
* postpartum complications
* diabetes
* anemia
* Illiterate