Title: Episiotomy Closure After Vaginal Delivery – A Prospective, Single Centre Study Assessing a Novel Fast-Absorbable, Monofilament Suture in Daily Practice
Abstract: This is the first assessment on the performance of a new fast-absorbable monofilament suture for episiotomy closure under daily clinical routine. The study was designed as a prospective, single centre, observational study including 50 women. Satisfaction and pain using the visual analogue scale was rated at discharge and eight weeks post-partum. Handling characteristics of the suture were assessed intrasurgically by the obstretricians using a 5-point Likert scale. Adverse events and wound healing outcome was monitored for eight weeks after delivery. Perineal pain rate as well as the pain level in different categories strongly decreased from discharge to eight weeks post-partum. Patient satisfaction was high, 84.4±18.97 and 91.2±16.86 at discharge and eight weeks after delivery, respectively. In total, 50% of the women had sexual intercourse 10 weeks post-partum. Suture handling was rated good to excellent by the obstretricians. Wound healing assessment indicated an excellent outcome. No wound dehiscence, wound infection, tissue reaction, allergic or inflammatory reaction occurred. Neither need for resuturing of the wound nor intrasurgical suture rupture were reported. Findings indicate that the clinical performance of novel, fast-absorbable, monofilament suture is equivalent to current sutures used for episiotomy closure and can be regarded as a viable alternative to rapid, absorbable multifilaments.