The Effect of Perineal Wound Infection on the Anal Sphincter

NCT ID: NCT04480684

Last Updated: 2021-09-16

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-08-14

Study Completion Date

2021-08-14

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Perineal injury following childbirth can result in complications such as wound infection. The perineum has closely related anatomical structures including the external genital organs and the anal triangle which contains the anal sphincter muscles. Therefore as wound infection can extend and as muscles of the perineum sit in such close proximity to each other, the anal sphincter muscles could potentially be affected. This could also potentially include cases of perineal injury where the anal sphincter was not injured.

However ultrasound has never been used to investigate this. Endoanal ultrasound is the gold standard diagnostic tool in the assessment of obstetric anal sphincter injury. The anal sphincter can also be visualised using multiplanar transperineal ultrasound(three/four-dimensional. Therefore both modalities could be used. However, it has been shown that transperineal ultrasound has a high positive predictive value and therefore is able to correctly identify an intact anal sphincter, but low positive predictive value; meaning poor detection of sphincter defects. Therefore, although it cannot completely substitute endoanal ultrasound (the gold standard in investigating obstetric anal sphincter injuries), it provides and adjunct/alternative for women who cannot tolerate endoanal ultrasound.

The investigators plan to perform an observational study to evaluate to the natural history of perineal wound infections. Patients will be assessed weekly with endoanal ultrasound and/or transperineal ultrasound until the wound infection has resolved and the wound has clinically healed.

If a bacterial wound swab has not been taken prior to recruitment or wound swab results are not available, one will be taken to detect the causative organisms. Appropriate antibiotics will then be given to cover the detected organism.

Bacterial burden and will also be measured weekly using the MolecuLight i:X; a bacterial autofluorescence camera which captures the presence and load of bacteria.

In wounds that have superficially dehisced; exact wound measurements including wound surface area, depth, volume and healing progress will be precisely measured using the Silhouette® 3D camera

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Obstetric Trauma Perineum; Injury Perineal Infection Anal Sphincter Injury

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Three-dimensional Endoanal Ultrasound

Three-dimensional endoanal ultrasound is the gold standard diagnostic tool in the assessment of obstetric anal sphincter injury. The anorectal transducer is inserted directly into the anal canal which allows assessment of the anal sphincter complex.

Patients will be assessed at weekly intervals with until the wound infection has resolved and the wound has clinically healed.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Transperineal Ultrasound(multiplanar)

If endoanal ultrasound is declined or not tolerated, the anal sphincter will also be assessed using three-/four-dimensional (3D/4D) transperineal ultrasound with the probe placed externally on the area of the fourchette.

Patients will be assessed at weekly intervals with until the wound infection has resolved and the wound has clinically healed.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

The MolecuLight i:X: Bacterial autofluorescence camera

The bacterial load of the perineal wound will be measured every week using the MolecuLight i:X. This is a system, which uses fluorescent illumination to capture and document the presence of bacteria.

Patients will be assessed at weekly intervals with until the wound infection has resolved and the wound has clinically healed.

These findings will be supported by microbiological analysis of the wound fluid with swab culture and sensitivity.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Silhouette® 3D camera: Three-dimensional wound measuring camera

For wound that have superficially dehisced, the wound surface area, depth, volume and healing progress will be precisely measured using the Silhouette® 3D camera. This is a system that uses 3D laser technology to track wound healing progression.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* Women with childbirth related perineal injury and wound infection
* Women over 18 years of age
* Ability to understand and read the patient information sheet (in English)
* Ability to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* Vulnerable Adult
* Fetal or neonatal death or poor neonatal outcome
* Women who are in an immunosuppressive state (e.g human immunodeficiency virus or pharmacologically induced immunodeficiencies by chemotherapy or steroids)
* Inability to give consent
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Mr Abdul H Sultan

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Abdul H Sultan, MB.ChB, MD, FRCOG

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Croydon University Hospital

London, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United Kingdom

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

McCandlish R, Bowler U, van Asten H, Berridge G, Winter C, Sames L, Garcia J, Renfrew M, Elbourne D. A randomised controlled trial of care of the perineum during second stage of normal labour. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1998 Dec;105(12):1262-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1998.tb10004.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9883917 (View on PubMed)

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG). Methods and Materials used in Perineal repair, Guideline No 23. London: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Press; 2004.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Thakar R, Fenner DE. Anatomy of the Perineum and the Anal Sphincter. In: Sultan AH, Thakar R, Fenner DE, editors. Perineal and Anal Sphincter Trauma: Diagnosis and Clinical Management [Internet]. London: Springer London; 2007. p. 1-12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84628-503-5_1

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Sultan AH. Obstetric Perineal Injury and Anal Incontinence. AVMA Medical & Legal Journal. 1999 Nov;5(6):193-6

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Webb S, Sherburn M, Ismail KM. Managing perineal trauma after childbirth. BMJ. 2014 Nov 25;349:g6829. doi: 10.1136/bmj.g6829. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25425212 (View on PubMed)

Arendsen L, Thakar R, Sultan A. Can perineal wound infection following vagina delivery be reduced? A double blind randomised controlled trial using copper impregnated maternity sanitary towels. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2019 Mar;234:e180.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Taithongchai A, van Gruting IMA, Volloyhaug I, Arendsen LP, Sultan AH, Thakar R. Comparing the diagnostic accuracy of 3 ultrasound modalities for diagnosing obstetric anal sphincter injuries. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Aug;221(2):134.e1-134.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2019.04.009. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30981717 (View on PubMed)

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Stockholm. Surgical site infections. In:ECDC. Annual epidemiological report for 2017. 2019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Sultan AH, Kamm MA. Faecal incontinence after childbirth. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1997 Sep;104(9):979-82. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12052.x. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9307520 (View on PubMed)

National Healthcare Safety Network, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Surgical site infection (SSI) event. [Internet]. 2017. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/pscmanual/9pscssicurrent.pdf.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Eisenberg VH, Valsky DV, Yagel S. Transperineal ultrasound assessment of the anal sphincter after obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI). Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Feb;53(2):158-165. doi: 10.1002/uog.19058. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29575180 (View on PubMed)

Okeahialam NA, Thakar R, Sultan AH. Bacterial autofluorescence in infected perineal wounds: A prospective cohort study. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2023 Jan;105(1):115831. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115831. Epub 2022 Oct 8.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36332560 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Download supplemental materials such as informed consent forms, study protocols, or participant manuals.

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

278466

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

Pilonidal Disease Wound Healing Study
NCT01857128 UNKNOWN PHASE4