Clinical trial NCT05851170: Use of Warm Compresses During the Second Stage and the Risk of Perineal Tears
Official title: Use of Warm Compresses During the Second Stage and the Risk of Perineal Tears: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Phase: NA
Conditions: Perineum; Tear
Keywords: Perineal tear
Warm compresses
Intact perineum
Almond oil
Lead sponsor: Western Galilee Hospital-Nahariya
Sponsor class: OTHER_GOV
First posted: 2023-05-09
Enrollment: 412
Sex: FEMALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 50
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Randomized controlled trial
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: There is a controversy regarding whether warm compresses influence the rate of intact perineum after a vaginal delivery.

According to a meta-analysis published in 2019 that included 7 randomized prospective trials, approximately 2103 participants, the use of warm compresses during the second stage of labor increased the chance of an intact perineum RR=1.46, decreased the chance of a third degree tear RR=0.38 and grade four tear RR=0.11. The limitations noted in this meta-analysis include non-uniformity in the methods of the studies included in the meta-analysis in terms of the number of participants, the duration of use of the compresses, and the temperature of the compresses. In summary, it is reported that there is a need for more randomized studies.

Since there is a need for more randomized studies in the field, the study's goal is to conduct a randomized study that will compare the use of warm compresses in the second stage of labor against a standard care control group (almond oil) - in terms of perineal tear that will require suturing.

Detailed description: Various techniques have been developed to prevent the development of perineal tears. As reported in the literature, active protection of the perineum during the second stage of labor can reduce the rate of tears. These include massage of the perineum, hands-on technique, use of gel, and warm compresses.

According to a Cochrane review that examined the use of warm compresses published in 2017, there is no difference in terms of the rate of events of an intact perineum, perineal trauma that requires suturing, but in a subanalysis it showed that there is a decrease in the rate of advanced tears, involving the anal sphincter and the rectal mucosa (grade three and four).

According to a meta-analysis published in 2019 that included 7 randomized prospective trials, approximately 2103 participants, the use of warm compresses during the second stage of labor increased the chance of an intact perineum RR=1.46, decreased the chance of a third degree tear RR=0.38 and grade four tear RR=0.11. The limitations noted in this meta-analysis include non-uniformity in the methods of the studies included in the meta-analysis in terms of the number of participants, the duration of use of the compresses, and the temperature of the compresses. In summary, it is reported that there is a need for more randomized studies.

Since there is a need for more randomized studies in the field, the study's goal is to conduct a randomized study that will compare the use of warm compresses in the second stage of labor against a standard care control group (almond oil) - in terms of perineal tear that will require suturing.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Term pregnancy
* Singleton pregnancy
* Vertex presentation

Exclusion Criteria:

* Women with a history of third degree perineal tear in the past
* Intrauterine fetal death
* Crohn disease with perineal involvement

Primary outcomes:
measure: Number of patients with perineal tear
timeFrame: 2 years
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Number of patients with episiotomy
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: Number of patients with mild perineal tear
timeFrame: 2 years
measure: Number of patients with with advanced perineal tear
timeFrame: 2 years
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Nahariya
country: Israel
facility: Galilee Medical Center
state: Hazafon
Study officials:
affiliation: Galilee Medical Center
name: Raneen Abu Shqara, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Aasheim V, Nilsen ABV, Reinar LM, Lukasse M. Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour for reducing perineal trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Jun 13;6(6):CD006672. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006672.pub3.
citation: Magoga G, Saccone G, Al-Kouatly HB, Dahlen G H, Thornton C, Akbarzadeh M, Ozcan T, Berghella V. Warm perineal compresses during the second stage of labor for reducing perineal trauma: A meta-analysis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2019 Sep;240:93-98. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.06.011. Epub 2019 Jun 15.
citation: Pierce-Williams RAM, Saccone G, Berghella V. Hands-on versus hands-off techniques for the prevention of perineal trauma during vaginal delivery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021 Mar;34(6):993-1001. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2019.1619686. Epub 2019 Jun 3.
citation: Geranmayeh M, Rezaei Habibabadi Z, Fallahkish B, Farahani MA, Khakbazan Z, Mehran A. Reducing perineal trauma through perineal massage with vaseline in second stage of labor. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012 Jan;285(1):77-81. doi: 10.1007/s00404-011-1919-5. Epub 2011 May 26.