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Prospective randomised multicentre trial with the birth trainer EPI‐NO® for the prevention of perineal trauma
Author(s) -
RUCKHÄBERLE Eugen,
JUNDT Katharina,
BÄUERLE Martin,
BRISCH KarlHeinz,
ULM Kurt,
DANNECKER Christian,
SCHNEIDER Karl Theo Mario
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2009.01044.x
Subject(s) - episiotomy , perineum , medicine , incidence (geometry) , randomized controlled trial , prospective cohort study , obstetrics , surgery , pregnancy , genetics , physics , optics , biology
Background: In several non‐randomised trials training with EPI‐NO® increased the rate of intact perineum and decreased episiotomy rates, shortened the second stage of labour and lowered use of pain killers. Aims: To verify the preliminary results with EPI‐NO® in a prospective randomised trial. Methods: Randomised, single‐blind multicentre trial in four university hospitals in Germany including 276 primigravidae. Results: After training with EPI‐NO® we observed a significant increase in the incidence of intact perineum (37.4% vs 25.7%; P = 0.05) and a tendency towards lower episiotomy rates (41.9% vs 50.5%; P = 0.11). We found no significant differences between the two groups regarding incidence of perineal tears, duration of second stage of labour, use of pain relief and rate of vaginal infection. Conclusions: Training with EPI‐NO® increases significantly the likelihood of having an intact perineum and reduces the episiotomy rate.