14 research outputs found
Short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with a chronic pain disorder
The current Covid-19 pandemic has already had a definite impact on the daily life of many people worldwide. It has been proposed that people with preexisting medical conditions will be harder hit by the pandemic and the subsequent measures to contain the spread of the disease. In this questionnaire-based, observational study, we aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on patients with a chronic pain disorder, who are treated at a tertiary multidisciplinary pain center.
Participants rated the impact of the pandemic on their chronic pain disorder using a self-designed questionnaire. Also, participants filled out the regular follow-up questionnaire to assess a chronic pain disorder measuring among other parameters pain intensity, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress, and pain-related quality of life.
Of 136 eligible patients who presented to our pain center between May 5th and July 17th, 112 agreed to participate in the study (82.4%). Eighty two participants (73.2%) reported a deterioration of the pain disorder using the self-designed questionnaire. The more robust parameters of the regular follow-up questionnaire showed no relevant changes compared to data collected before the pandemic. We were not able to detect any demographic and medical parameters that were clinically relevantly associated with a higher impact of the pandemic.
We conclude that a chronic pain disorder is a relatively stable disease that does not change significantly due to external factors, like the Covid-19 pandemic, even if the subjective impact is perceived to be high
Anal incontinence, urinary incontinence and sexual problems in primiparous women â a comparison between women with episiotomy only and women with episiotomy and obstetric anal sphincter injury
Background: Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) might cause anal incontinence (AI) and sexual dysfunction,
and might be associated with urinary incontinence (UI). Episiotomy has been identified both as a risk and a
protective factor of OASIS. Lately, episiotomies with specific characteristics have shown to be protective against the
risk of OASIS. However, little is known about episiotomy characteristics and pelvic floor dysfunction. This study
investigates AI, UI, and sexual problems in primiparous women with episiotomy, comparing women with and
without OASIS. Associations between episiotomy characteristics and AI, UI, and sexual problems were assessed.
Methods: This is a matched caseâcontrol study investigating 74 women with one vaginal birth, all with an
episiotomy. Among these, 37 women sustained OASIS and were compared to 37 women without OASIS. The two
groups were matched for vacuum/forceps. AI, UI and sexual problem symptoms were obtained from St. Markâs
scoring-tool and self-administered questionnaires. The episiotomy characteristics were investigated and results
assessed for the whole group.
Results: The mean time from birth was 34.5 months (range1.3-78.2) for those with OASIS and 25.9 months (range
7.0-57.4) for those without OASIS, respectively. More women with OASIS reported AI: 14 (38%) vs. 3 (8%) p = 0.05
(OR 4.66, 95% CI 1.34-16.33) as well as more problem with sexual desire p = 0.02 (OR 7.62, 95% CI 1.30-44.64)
compared to women without OASIS. We found no association between episiotomy with protective characteristics
and dysfunctions.
Conclusion: Women with OASIS had more AI and sexual problems than those without OASIS. Episiotomy
characteristics varied greatly between the women. Episiotomy with protective characteristics was not associated
with increased dysfunctions. OASIS should be avoided, and correct episiotomy used if indicated
Fetal head size and effect of manual perineal protection
CĂlem studie je vyhodnotit zda dĆĂve identifikovanĂĄ modifikace VĂdeĆskĂ© metody manuĂĄlnĂ perineĂĄlnĂ protekce je takĂ© nejefektivnÄjĆĄĂ pro redukci perineĂĄlnĂho napÄtĂ v pĆĂpadech s vĂœraznÄ menĆĄĂ nebo vÄtĆĄĂ hlaviÄkou plodu.The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a previously identified modification of Viennese method of perineal protection remains most effective for reduction of perineal tension in cases with substantially smaller or larger fetal heads