Effect of Ice Pack on Pain and Activities of Daily Living after Episiotomy: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Introduction: Episiotomy is a common surgical procedure used during childbirth. Approximately 52% of women who have vaginal births undergo episiotomy, with 93.3% of primiparous women and 30.2% of multiparous women being affected. Perineal pain is a prevalent issue among mothers and can negativel...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/18619/65320_CE[Ra1]_F(SS)_QC&Ref(KK_IS)_PF1(HB_DK)_PFA(OM)_PB(HB_KM)_PN(KM).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: Episiotomy is a common surgical procedure used
during childbirth. Approximately 52% of women who have vaginal
births undergo episiotomy, with 93.3% of primiparous women
and 30.2% of multiparous women being affected. Perineal pain is
a prevalent issue among mothers and can negatively impact their
daily functioning and early experiences of motherhood. The use
of an ice pack on the perineum is a simple, non pharmacological
treatment for pain relief that may have an impact on postpartum
recovery. However, no study has been conducted to determine
the effect of an ice pack on postnatal mothers’ compliance with
Activities of Daily Living (ADL) following episiotomy.
Aim: To evaluate the effect of an ice pack on pain and ADL after
episiotomy.
Materials and Methods: This trial is an experimental, parallel,
and assessor-blinded allocation with a computer-generated
randomisation sequence. A randomised controlled trial conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBG) at
Justice KS Hegde Charitable Hospital in Deralakatte, Mangaluru,
India. The study duration was one year, from March 2022 to March
2023. A total of 64 postnatal mothers (32 in each group) were
included. This trial is an experimental, parallel, and assessorblinded allocation with a computer-generated randomisation
sequence. The inclusion criteria were primiparous women
aged between 18-35 years, who underwent episiotomy within
6 to 24 hours postpartum, delivered a live baby, complained of
pain at the incision site, had a full-term labour, and had no other
complications during pregnancy or labour. The participants
were also required to be literate. Age, Numerical Pain Rating
Scale (NPRS), and Barthel Index (BI) were compared between
the groups using the independent sample t-test. The paired
t-test was used for within group (pre to post-test) comparison
of NPRS and Barthel index. A p-value of <0.05 was considered
significant.
Results: There was a significant difference in pain experienced
by the groups, as assessed by NPRS (p<0.001). However, there
was no difference in ADL between the groups (p>0.05). No side
effects or harms were reported. Ice pack application, once
daily for two days, was found to be safe and feasible for postepisiotomy patients.
Conclusion: The current randomised controlled trial concludes
that the application of an ice pack once daily for two days is
significantly effective in reducing pain after episiotomy. However,
it does not improve ADL in patients with post-episiotomy. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |