Abstract: Validation of the French version of the questionnaire: Women's Views of Birth Labour Satisfaction Questionnaire, version 4 (WOMBLSQ4). This self-administered questionnaire measures patient satisfaction with care dispensed during childbirth.
Abstract: Maternal anal sphincter tears after vaginal delivery are frequently not diagnosed clinically and are associated with subsequent fecal incontinence. This study examined whether diagnosis of these tears by ultrasonography, followed by immediate surgical repair, reduces the occurrence of incontinence.
Abstract: To evaluate the prevalence of anal incontinence and anal sphincter defects after a first vaginal delivery and assess the effect of a second delivery.
Abstract: We contacted 208 women 13 years after they suffered an obstetrical anal sphincter tear in order to estimate the effect of subsequent vaginal deliveries on anal continence. Among the 177 eligible responders, 129 sustained a partial or complete 3rd degree and 48 a 4th degree tear; 114 women had subsequent vaginal deliveries. Anal incontinence was more common in women with 4th (25.0%) than with 3rd degree tears (11.5%, p = 0.049). Subsequent vaginal deliveries were associated with a higher prevalence of severe incontinence in women with 4th degree tears (p = 0.023). No aggravation or increase in prevalence of incontinence was observed in women with 3rd degree tears. These results suggest that in a subsequent pregnancy, careful evaluation is necessary and an abdominal delivery may be advisable for women with previous major sphincter trauma.
