Rectus Muscle Re-approximation at Cesarean Delivery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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We include in our study 200 pregnant women, primigravidas, at term who underwent elective lower segment Cesarean section for the first time among the age group of 20 - 35 years. The patients are divided randomly into two groups as follows: Group (A): undergoing rectus muscle re-approximation Group (B): not undergoing rectus muscle re-approximation

Detailed Description
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We include in our study 200 pregnant women, primigravidas, at term who underwent elective lower segment Cesarean section for the first time among the age group of 20 - 35 years. The patients are divided randomly into two groups as follows: Group (A): undergoing rectus muscle re-approximation Group (B): not undergoing rectus muscle re-approximation Examination for diastasis recti abdominis is done for all included patients before delivery, at 6 weeks, and 6 months postpartum. The women are tested in a standardized supine position with arms crossed over the chest. They are instructed to perform an abdominal crunch till the shoulder blades are off the bench. Then we measure the inter-recti distance. If there is no separation or separation ˂ 2 finger breadths so, there is no diastasis recti abdominis. But if the separation is more than 2 finger breadths or more than 4.5 cm so, this is considered diastasis recti abdominis. The same surgical techniques are used for both groups. All women underwent Pfnannenstiel incision under general or spinal anaesthesia, with a combination of sharp and blunt dissection to open the abdomen. The rectus muscles are dissected off the fascia, and the muscles are separated in the midline by pulling. Then the uterus is opened followed by fetal and placental extraction. The transverse lower uterine segment incision is closed in two layers of continuous Vicryl number 1 suture. The parietal peritoneum is closed using a continuous absorbable suture. In group (A): rectus muscle re-approximation is done by 3 interrupted sutures, but muscle is not closed in the other group. The rectus sheath is sutured using continuous absorbable sutures. Finally, skin is sutured with subcuticular sutures with Vicryl Rapide.

Official Title
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The Value of Rectus Muscle Re-approximation at Cesarean Delivery

Conditions
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Post Cesarean Section Pain

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: cesarean section
* Procedure: Rectus muscle approximation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: primigravida undergoing elective Cesarean section Exclusion Criteria: Patients with history of any pelvic or abdominal surgery those having any medical disorder with pregnancy patients with BMI ≥ 40 chronic analgesia use multiple pregnancies

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 39 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: rectus muscle approximation<br>All women underwent Pfnannenstiel incision under general or spinal anaesthesia, with a combination of sharp and blunt dissection to open the abdomen. The rectus muscles are dissected off the fascia, and the muscles are separated in the midline by pulling. Then the uterus is opened followed by fetal and placental extraction. The transverse lower uterine segment incision is closed in two layers of continuous Vicryl number 1 suture. The parietal peritoneum is closed using a continuous absorbable suture. In group (A): rectus muscle re-approximation is done by 3 interrupted sutures, but muscle is not closed in the other group. The rectus sheath is sutured using continuous absorbable sutures. Finally, skin is sutured with subcuticular sutures with Vicryl Rapide | Procedure: cesarean section<br>* All women underwent Pfnannenstiel incision under general or spinal anaesthesia, with a combination of sharp and blunt dissection to open the abdomen. The rectus muscles are dissected off the fascia, and the muscles are separated in the midline by pulling. Then the uterus is opened followed by fetal and placental extraction. The transverse lower uterine segment incision is closed in two layers of continuous Vicryl number 1 suture. The parietal peritoneum is closed using a continuous absorbable suture. In group (A): rectus muscle re-approximation is done by 3 interrupted sutures, but muscle is not closed in the other group. The rectus sheath is sutured using continuous absorbable sutures. Finally, skin is sutured with subcuticular sutures with Vicryl Rapide<br>Procedure: Rectus muscle approximation<br>* aprroximation of the lower parts of rectus abdomius muscles during cesarean section<br>|
| Active Comparator: rectus muscle non approximation<br>All women underwent Pfnannenstiel incision under general or spinal anaesthesia, with a combination of sharp and blunt dissection to open the abdomen. The rectus muscles are dissected off the fascia, and the muscles are separated in the midline by pulling. Then the uterus is opened followed by fetal and placental extraction. The transverse lower uterine segment incision is closed in two layers of continuous Vicryl number 1 suture. The parietal peritoneum is closed using a continuous absorbable suture. In group (A): rectus muscle re-approximation is done by 3 interrupted sutures, but muscle is not closed in the other group. The rectus sheath is sutured using continuous absorbable sutures. Finally, skin is sutured with subcuticular sutures with Vicryl Rapide | Procedure: cesarean section<br>* All women underwent Pfnannenstiel incision under general or spinal anaesthesia, with a combination of sharp and blunt dissection to open the abdomen. The rectus muscles are dissected off the fascia, and the muscles are separated in the midline by pulling. Then the uterus is opened followed by fetal and placental extraction. The transverse lower uterine segment incision is closed in two layers of continuous Vicryl number 1 suture. The parietal peritoneum is closed using a continuous absorbable suture. In group (A): rectus muscle re-approximation is done by 3 interrupted sutures, but muscle is not closed in the other group. The rectus sheath is sutured using continuous absorbable sutures. Finally, skin is sutured with subcuticular sutures with Vicryl Rapide<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Post-operative pain | • Post-operative pain is analyzed by using 4 point verbal rating scale (VRS) which consists of a list of adjectives describing different levels of pain intensity i.e (no pain =1, mild pain = 2, moderate pain = 3, severe pain = 4), patients are asked to read this list of adjectives and select the word that best describes their level of pain on the scale | 4 hours after operation |