| Pudendal nerve damage during labour: prospective study before and after childbirth. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 8297863 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVE: To establish the effect of childbirth on pudendal nerve function and identify obstetric factors associated with such damage. DESIGN: A prospective investigational study. SETTING: Antenatal clinic, St Bartholomew's (Homerton) Hospital. SUBJECTS: One hundred and twenty-eight unselected pregnant women beyond 34 weeks' gestation. INTERVENTION: Pudendal nerve terminal motor latencies (PNTML) and perineal plane were measured during pregnancy and six to eight weeks after delivery, and remeasured in a subgroup (n = 22) at six months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Effect of mode of delivery on PNTML and the plane of the perineum. RESULTS: Vaginal delivery resulted in a significant (P < 0.0001) prolongation of the mean PNTML bilaterally in both primipara (n = 57) 1.91 ms (SD 0.19) vs 2.00 ms (SD 0.22), antenatal vs postnatal, right PNTML; 1.96 ms (SD 0.21) vs 2.06 ms (SD 0.24) left PNTML, and multipara (n = 32) (P < 0.01). Perineal descent during straining was also increased after vaginal delivery (P < 0.001). Greater damage to the pudendal nerve occurred on the left side (P = 0.03). PNTML were not altered after elective caesarean section (n = 7), but were increased on the left side when caesarean section was performed during labour (1.94 ms (SD 0.13) vs 2.08 ms (SD 0.29), P < 0.01). A heavier baby and a longer active second stage of labour were both associated with significant prolongation of PNTML. Eight out of 12 women with a prolonged PNTML at six weeks had normal measurements when restudied six months after delivery. CONCLUSION: Vaginal delivery, particularly the first, results in significant pelvic floor tissue stretching and pudendal nerve damage. Women who have a caesarean section during labour may also be at risk of pudendal nerve damage. The process of labour and vaginal delivery can both cause pudendal nerve damage which may be asymmetrical in extent. |
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Authors:
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A H Sultan; M A Kamm; C N Hudson |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Volume: 101 ISSN: 0306-5456 ISO Abbreviation: Br J Obstet Gynaecol Publication Date: 1994 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 1994-03-10 Completed Date: 1994-03-10 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7503752 Medline TA: Br J Obstet Gynaecol Country: ENGLAND |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 22-8 Citation Subset: AIM; IM |
Affiliation:
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St Mark's Hospital, London, UK. |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Action Potentials
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physiology Adult Cesarean Section Female Humans Labor, Obstetric Motor Neuron Disease / etiology Motor Neurons / physiology Obstetric Labor Complications / physiopathology* Parity Pelvic Floor / innervation* Postnatal Care Pregnancy Prenatal Care Prospective Studies Puerperal Disorders / physiopathology* Reaction Time |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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