Abstract
Aim: The aim of this retrospective study is to correlate the presence of residual anal sphincter defect with the quality of life of patients after vaginal delivery complicated with obstetrical anal sphincter injury. Study group and methods: Patients dia-gnosed with obstetrical anal sphincter injury are dispensed at our urogynecological unit, with a mean follow-up period of 37 months.
Two investigators blinded to the results of clinical symptoms evaluated archived ultrasound volumes taken for the presence of residual anal sphincter defects that were later correlated with the St. Mark's Incontinence Score.
Results: The group comprises of 181 patients dia-gnosed with an obstetrical anal sphincter injury who underwent ultrasound examination of anal sphincter at three post-partum months. The questionnaires were completed by 118 patients (65.2% of all patients).
A residual sphincter defect was dia-gnosed in seven cases (5.9%). In the group with residual defects, fecal urgency (lack of ability to defer defecation) was present in 57.1%.
In the group without residual anal sphincter defects, fecal urgency was present in 12.6%. This difference is significant (< 0.001) with the contingency coefficient 0.291.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the presence of residual anal sphincter defect increases the probability of fecal urgency.