Improvements in obstetric care: analysis of 18 years of real-world data
on the reduction of obstetric anal sphincter injuries during
instrumental deliveries
Abstract
Objective To determine the prevalence and secular trends of
obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in vacuum and forceps
deliveries in Norway, both with and without episiotomy. Design
Population-based prospective real-world data collected during 2001‒2018.
Setting Medical Birth Registry Norway. Population or
Sample Nulliparous women with singleton fetuses in a cephalic
presentation delivered by either vacuum or forceps (n=70,783).
Methods Logistic regression analyses were applied to the OASIS
prevalence in six 3-year time periods. Both crude odds ratios and
adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were
determined. Main Outcome Measures OASIS prevalence.
Results The OASIS prevalence in vacuum and forceps deliveries
decreased from 14.8% during 2001–2003 to 5.2% during 2016–2018. The
overall reduction between the first and last 3-year time period was 61%
(aOR=0.39, 95% CI=0.35–0.43). The only exception to this decreasing
trend in OASIS was found in forceps deliveries performed without an
episiotomy. The OASIS prevalence was approximately twofold higher in
forceps compared to vacuum deliveries (aOR=1.92, 95% CI=1.79–2.05).
Performing either a mediolateral or lateral episiotomy was associated
with a 45% decrease in the prevalence of OASIS relative to no
episiotomy (aOR=0.55, 95% CI=0.52–0.58). Conclusions Opting
for vacuum rather than forceps delivery in conjunction with a
mediolateral or lateral episiotomy could significantly lower the OASIS
prevalence in primiparous women.