# Repercussions of perineal repair using surgical glue or suture thread on postpartum outcomes: A controlled randomized clinical trial in São Paulo, Brazil

## TL;DR

This study compared the effects of using surgical glue versus suture thread for perineal repair after childbirth on postpartum outcomes in São Paulo, Brazil.

## Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence on the long-term functional and aesthetic outcomes of two perineal repair methods in postpartum women.

## Key findings

- No significant differences were found in urinary incontinence between surgical glue and suture thread groups.
- Women in the surgical glue group showed higher mean values in sexual function domains, though not statistically significant.
- Surgical glue demonstrated good aesthetic and functional results at eight months postpartum.

## Abstract

The type of perineal repair can have significant long-term effects on various functions in a woman's postpartum life. The aim was to compare urinary incontinence (UI), women's satisfaction, pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), and sexual function according to the type of perineal repair (surgical glue or suture thread) during the first eight months after normal childbirth.

A controlled randomized clinical trial of 133 primiparous women undergoing perineal repair during birth with surgical glue or sutures, evaluated during labor and monitored up to 8 months postpartum, from March 2017 to September 2018, in the city in São Paulo, Bazil. Descriptive and inferential analyses were carried out.

A total of 133 women were included in the study, 111 (83.5%) were assessed between 10 to 20 days postpartum, 121 (91.0%) between 50 to 70 days, and 54 (40.6%) between 6 to 8 months. There were no significant differences for UI concerning the type of repair; however, there was a significant difference concerning the postpartum period (p=0.031), with a higher prevalence at two months. Most women reported satisfaction, with the highest levels reported two months after birth (p=0.019). For PFMS, the mean of the glue and suture groups were 32.4 cmH2O and 27.4 cmH2O, but not significant. Women in the glue group showed higher mean values in all sexual function domains but without significance.

Surgical glue showed good aesthetic and functional results in the perineum at eight months postpartum.