Letter

摘要

Two randomized studies found warm compresses insecond stage did not lower the rate of sutured perineumsin primiparous women (1,2). The 80 percentsutured perineums in the Dahlen et al study was confoundedby an 11 percent episiotomy rate and 10 percentrate of vacuum births (1). The 34 percent rate inthe study by Albers et al (2) of sutured tears was notconfounded by episiotomy or instrumental births.Prelabor perineal massage has been found to lowerthe rate of sutured perineums in primiparous women(3). Rates of sutured perineums of primiparouswomen were significantly lowered after use of theEpi-No birth trainer device to 51 percent (4), 54 percent(5), and 52 percent (6); however, these studieswere confounded by episiotomy rates ranging from34 percent (5) to 82 percent (4).