Análise crítica sobre a utilização do Epi-No na gestação e parto

Atualmente são reportados métodos que poderiam favorecer o alongamento e prevenir as lesões do assoalho pélvico no parto vaginal, como a massagem perineal e o balão Epi-No. Esse dispositivo é bem aceito pelas pacientes, mas seus resultados para prevenção de episiotomias e lesões perineais são controversos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o propósito, método, frequência, ensino/orientação e resultados da utilização do Epi-No durante a gestação e parto. Foi elaborada uma revisão narrativa com levantamento de bibliografia disponível sobre o uso do Epi-No nas bases de dados PUBMED, BVS e SciELO em português e inglês. 837 artigos foram encontrados, nos quais apenas 9 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Informações desses artigos foram sintetizadas em quadros que contemplaram os aspectos considerados pertinentes. Fatores como o tempo, período, posicionamento e processo de ensino/orientação devem ser melhor descritos e padronizados para que seja possível investigar a eficácia de seu uso nos desfechos perineais no parto vaginal

Distensibility and Strength of the Pelvic Floor Muscles of Women in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Objective. the objective of this study was to compare the role of the pelvic floor muscles between nulliparous and multiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy, by analyzing the relationship between electrical activity (surface electromyography-EMG), vaginal palpation (modified Oxford scale), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no). Methods. This was an observational cross-sectional study on a sample of 60 healthy pregnant women with no cervical dilation, single fetus, gestational age between 35 and 40 weeks, and maternal age ranging from 15 to 40 years. the methods used were bidigital palpation (modified Oxford scale, graded 05), surface EMG(electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no device). the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was used to analyze the Epi-no values and the surface EMG findings. the Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the median values from surface EMG and Epi-no, using the modified Oxford scale scores. Results. Among the 60 patients included in this study, 30 were nulliparous and 30 multiparous. the average maternal age and gestational age were 26.06 (+/- 5.58) and 36.56 (+/- 1.23), respectively. It was observed that nulliparous women had both higher perineal muscle strength (2.53 +/- 0.57 versus 2.06 +/- 0.64;P = 0.005) and higher electrical activity (45.35 +/- 12.24.. V versus 35.79 +/- 11.66 mu V;P = 0.003), while among the multiparous women, distensibility was higher (19.39 +/- 1.92 versus 18.05 +/- 2.14;P = 0.013). We observed that there was no correlation between perineal distensibility and electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction(r = -0.193;p - 0.140). However, we found a positive relationship between vaginal palpation and surface electromyography (P = 0.008), but none between Epi-no values (P = 0.785). Conclusion. the electrical activity and muscle strength of the pelvic floor muscles of the multiparous women were damaged, in relation to the nulliparous women, while the perineal distensibility was lower in the latter group. There was a positive relationship between surface EMG and the modified Oxford scale.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Obstet, BR-05303000 Vila Leopoldina, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Uberlandia, Fac Phys Educ & Physiotherapy, BR-38400 Uberlandia, MG, BrazilFed Univ São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Obstet, BR-05303000 Vila Leopoldina, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/18731-6Web of Scienc

Assessing the Impact of Twin Pregnancies on the Pelvic Floor Using 3-Dimensional Sonography A Pilot Study

Objectives-The purpose of this study was to compare the morphologic characteristics of the pelvic floor musculature between women with twin and singleton pregnancies.Methods-We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study of 40 nulliparous women aged 20 to 38 years to compare women with singleton pregnancies (n = 23) to women with twin pregnancies (n = 17). Biometric measurements of the levator hiatus and the sagittal and coronal diameters were made by transperineal 3-dimensional sonography between the 28th and 38th gestational weeks. Comparisons were statistically assessed by the unpaired Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test.Results-For the women with singleton pregnancies, the mean sagittal diameters at rest, during the Valsalva maneuver, and during pelvic floor contraction were 5.3, 5.7, and 4.5 cm, respectively, and the mean coronal diameters under these conditions were 3.8, 4.1, and 3.6 cm. for the women with twin pregnancies, the corresponding values were as follows: mean sagittal diameters, 5.3, 5.8, and 4.6 cm; and mean coronal diameters, 4.3, 4.3, and 3.8 cm. the differences in coronal diameters were statistically significant at rest (P < .01) and during contraction (P = .04). the mean levator hiatal areas for the women with singleton pregnancies were 14.6, 16.9, and 11.7 cm(2) at rest, during Valsalva, and during contraction, respectively; for the women with twin pregnancies, these values were 16.0, 18.6, and 12.6 cm(2).Conclusions-Hiatal measurements were higher in twin than in singleton pregnancies, with coronal diameters reaching significance at rest and during contraction, suggesting that pelvic support undergoes greater changes during twin pregnancy.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Obstet, Pelv Floor Sect, BR-05303000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Obstet, Pelv Floor Sect, BR-05303000 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Profile of faculty members and of contents of Physical Therapy in Women’s Health taught in Public Institutions of Higher Education in Brazil

Fue realizado un estudio transversal descritivo en que se evaluó el perfil de los docentes y el contenido impartido en asignaturas de Fisioterapia en Salud de la Mujer en Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) públicas de Brasil. Docentes de la área de Fisioterapia en Salud de la Mujer o áreas asociadas de instituciones públicas brasileñas fueron invitados a llenar un cuestionario estructurado con cuestiones sobre datos personales, formación académica, actuación profesional y contenido programático de la asignatura. Los datos fueron analizados de forma descritiva en el Programa SAS, siendo que participaron 51 docentes, de 44 cursos de Fisioterapia, de los cuales la mayoría es del sexo femenino, con media de edad de 39,6±7,4 años. La mayor parte de los docentes realizan actividades de investigación, enseñanza y extensión y posseen maestría y doctorado, mas sólo 25,5% estan acreditados en programas de posgrado stricto sensu. Todos los cursos ofrecen por lo menos una asignatura obligatoria y en 54,6% de los cursos es ofrecida pasantía obligatoria en la área de Fisioterapia en Salud de la Mujer. Los contenidos impartidos y escenarios de práctica son diversificados, así como el nombre de las asignaturas y pasantías. En la mayor parte de los cursos, los alumnos aprenden a realizar la palpación vaginal en la pasantía y las habilidades prácticas son entrenadas de modo diversificado y en variados escenarios de práctica. El nombre de las asignaturas son variados, así como la forma de entrenamiento de las habilidades prácticas impartidas.It was assessed the profile of faculty members and contents of Physical Therapy in Women’s Health taught in Public Institutions of Higher Education in Brazil. This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. Professors of Physical Therapy in Women’s Health or related areas of Brazilian Public Institutions were invited to fill a structured questionnaire containing questions about personal information, academic background, professional experience and syllabus of the subject. Data were descriptively analyzed in the SAS Program. Fifty-one professors of 44 Physical Therapy programs participated in the research. Most of the professors were women, with an average age of 39.6 ± 7.4 years. Most of them held research, teaching and extension activities and master’s and doctoral degrees, but only 25.5% are registered in Graduate Programs in Specialized Fields (Master’s or Doctorate). All programs offer at least one compulsory subject and in 54.6% of the programs a compulsory internship in Physical Therapy in Women’s Health is offered. The contents taught and practice scenarios are diverse, as well as the name of the subjects and internships. In most programs, students learn how to perform vaginal palpation in the internship and practical skills are trained in a diversified way and in varied practical scenarios. The professors are young, female and conduct teaching, research and extension activities. All programs offer mandatory subjects in the area and most of them offer mandatory internship. The name of the subjects vary as well as the form of training of the practical skills taught.Foi realizado um estudo transversal descritivo em que se avaliou o perfil dos docentes e o conteúdo ministrado em disciplinas de Fisioterapia em Saúde da Mulher em Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) públicas do Brasil. Docentes da área de Fisioterapia em Saúde da Mulher ou áreas afins de instituições públicas brasileiras foram convidados a preencher um questionário estruturado, contendo questões sobre dados pessoais, formação acadêmica, atuação profissional e conteúdo programático da disciplina. Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva no Programa SAS, sendo que participaram 51 docentes, de 44 cursos de Fisioterapia, dos quais a maioria é do sexo feminino, com média de idade de 39,6±7,4 anos. A maior parte dos docentes realizam atividades de pesquisa, ensino e extensão e possuem mestrado e doutorado, mas apenas 25,5% estão credenciados em programas de pós-graduação stricto sensu. Todos os cursos oferecem pelo menos uma disciplina obrigatória e em 54,6% dos cursos é oferecido estágio obrigatório na área de Fisioterapia em Saúde da Mulher. Os conteúdos ministrados e cenários de prática são diversificados, assim como o nome das disciplinas e estágios. Na maior parte dos cursos, os alunos aprendem a realizar a palpação vaginal no estágio e as habilidades práticas são treinadas de modo diversificado e em variados cenários de prática. O nome das disciplinas são variados, assim como a forma de treinamento das habilidades práticas ministradas

Translation of the UK-Birth-Satisfaction-Scale-Revised (BSS-R) into Brazilian (Portuguese) and description of initial measurement properties

RationaleThe concept of birth satisfaction embraces many factors, which include for example perceived quality of care provision, stress experienced, and personal coping strategies. A woman’s birth experience has the power to affect her mental health, decisions surrounding future birth planning, and quality of relationships with her partner and family. The UK-Birth-Satisfaction-Scale-Revised (UK-BSS-R) is currently recommended as the tool of choice by the International Consortium for Health Outcome Measures (ICHOM) for measuring women’s experiences of childbirth. It was therefore considered important to translate and validate this scale for use in a Brazilian context.ObjectiveTo translate and culturally adapt the UK-BSS-R into Brazilian (Portuguese) and validate its key measurement properties.MethodsA repeated-measures survey was conducted for the purpose of examining factor structure, validity and reliability of the Brazilian (Portuguese)-BSS-R.ParticipantsData was gathered from (n = 101) Brazilian Portuguese-speaking postnatal women.ResultsThe initial measurement characteristics of the Brazilian (Portuguese)-BSS-R in terms of Intraclass Correlational Coefficient, Standard Error of Measurement and minimal detectable change were found to be excellent.ConclusionThe Brazilian (Portuguese)-BSS-R is now considered to be a valid and reliable multidimensional psychometric instrument for measuring birth satisfaction in a Brazilian Portuguese population of postnatal women. This translation was found to be conceptually consistent with the original English-language version (UK-BSS-R) and to have an excellent initial measurement characteristics profile. The direction of future research is indicated, specifically to undertake a thorough psychometric evaluation of the Brazilian (Portuguese)-BSS-R in a larger sample

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Determination of a cutoff value for pelvic floor distensibility using the Epi-no balloon to predict perineal integrity in vaginal delivery: ROC curve analysis. Prospective observational single cohort study

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Several risk factors are involved in perineal lacerations during vaginal delivery. However, little is known about the influence of perineal distensibility as a protective factor. The aim here was to determine a cutoff value for pelvic floor distensibility measured using the Epi-no balloon, which could be used as a predictive factor for perineal integrity in vaginal delivery. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective observational single cohort study conducted in a maternity hospital. METHODS: A convenience sample of 227 consecutive at-term parturients was used. All women had a single fetus in the vertex presentation, with up to 9.0 cm of dilation. The maximum dilation of the Epi-no balloon was measured using a tape measure after it had been inflated inside the vagina up to the parturients' maximum tolerance. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to obtain the Epi-no circumference measurement with best sensitivity and specificity. RESULTS: Among the 161 patients who were included in the study, 50.9% underwent episiotomy, 21.8% presented lacerations and 27.3% retained an intact perineum. Age > 25.9 years; number of pregnancies > 3.4; number of deliveries > 2.2 and circumference measured by Epi-no > 21.4 cm were all directly correlated with an intact perineum. Circumference measurements using the Epi-no balloon that were greater than 20.8 cm showed sensitivity and specificity of 70.5% and 66.7% (area under curve = 0.713), respectively, as a predictive factor for an intact perineum in vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Circumferences greater than 20.8 cm achieved using the Epi-no balloon are a predictive factor for perineal integrity in parturients