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. 1993 Oct;82(4 Pt 1):527-31.

Incontinence following rupture of the anal sphincter during delivery

L A Crawford  1 , E H Quint, M L Pearl, J O DeLancey
Affiliations
  • PMID: 8377977

Incontinence following rupture of the anal sphincter during delivery

L A Crawford et al. Obstet Gynecol. 1993 Oct.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency with which patients report incontinence of flatus or stool after rupture of the anal sphincter during delivery.

Methods: A chart review and telephone interview were conducted with 70 primiparas, 35 of whom had rupture of the anal sphincter at delivery and 35 of whom did not. All were contacted 9-12 months postpartum and questioned about the development of incontinence of gas or liquid or formed stool, persistent dyspareunia, and perineal pain.

Results: Incontinence of gas was reported by six women (17%) in the rupture group and one (3%) in the control group (P < .05). The incidence of incontinence of stool, both liquid and solid, dyspareunia, and persistent perineal pain were similar between the groups.

Conclusion: Incontinence of flatus was reported six times more often by women who experienced a third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration than by those without anal sphincter rupture.

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