Perineal trauma is a relatively common occurrence during childbirth. Most women experience some form of laceration during vaginal delivery, with the majority classified as first- or second-degree lacerations [1]. More severe perineal lacerations, which extend through the anal sphincter complex, are known as obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) [1]. Episiotomy, a surgical procedure that enlarges the posterior aspect of the vagina via an incision to the perineum, may be performed during the final part of the second stage of labor. While midline episiotomy is the most common type in the United States, mediolateral episiotomy is more frequently performed in Europe. Perineal trauma during childbirth can lead to both short-term and long-term complications, including bleeding, infection, urinary and fecal incontinence, and dyspareunia [2]. The frequency of perineal trauma varies based on factors such as patient characteristics, birth setting, and practices of the care provider. A meta-analysis of 22 studies identified the strongest risk factors for OASIS as operative vaginal delivery, midline episiotomy, and increased fetal birth weight. Other risk factors that showed significant associations with severe perineal trauma included primiparity, Asian ethnicity, labor induction, labor augmentation, epidural anesthesia, and persistent occiput posterior position [3].

Transperineal ultrasound (TPU) has gained popularity as a tool for assessing the pelvic floor [4]. This approach has enhanced understanding of the labor mechanism, particularly with respect to the levator ani muscle (LAM), the primary component of the pelvic floor. Several studies have shown a strong correlation between successful vaginal delivery and LAM relaxation during maternal pushing. Conversely, failure of vaginal delivery is associated with coactivation, defined as muscle contraction during the Valsalva maneuver [5,6]. However, the impact of coactivation on perineal trauma in women undergoing vaginal delivery has not been previously evaluated.

The primary objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of perineal trauma within a prospectively recruited cohort of women while distinguishing between various types of trauma, given that women may concurrently experience multiple forms of perineal injuries. The secondary aim was to evaluate the relationships of the pelvic floor dimensions and the fetal head station, both at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver prior to the onset of labor, with obstetric trauma, including spontaneous obstetric laceration and/or episiotomy.

The analysis included a total of 296 women. Table 1 presents the maternal characteristics and labor outcomes. Of the population studied, 218 patients (73.7%) experienced a spontaneous vaginal delivery, 35 (11.8%) underwent an operative vaginal delivery, and 43 (14.5%) had a cesarean delivery. Among the 253 women who delivered vaginally, 19% (48/253) did not sustain any perineal trauma, 18.2% (46/253) received an episiotomy during childbirth, 34.4% (87/253) experienced a first-degree laceration, 25.3% (64/253) had a second-degree laceration, and 3.2% (8/253) had a third- or fourth-degree laceration. Table 2 provides the baseline characteristics, TPU measurements, and obstetric outcomes of the participants, categorized into five groups based on the type of perineal trauma experienced during childbirth.

Women who underwent an episiotomy exhibited a significantly shorter median APD under the Valsalva maneuver compared to women who did not experience perineal trauma. The group of women with OASIS, the most severe type of spontaneous obstetric laceration, displayed the shortest median APD value. Furthermore, the OASIS group demonstrated a negative difference between the median APD under Valsalva maneuver and the median APD at rest.

Women with OASIS, those who received an episiotomy, and those with a second-degree obstetric laceration experienced a significantly longer duration of the second stage of labor compared to women with an intact perineum or a first-degree obstetric laceration. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk of episiotomy decreased as the APD value under the Valsalva maneuver increased. The only independent variable that made a significant contribution to the model was APD under the Valsalva maneuver, with an OR of 0.956 (95% CI, 0.928 to 0.986; P<0.05). This significant contribution was also observed in the multivariate model (OR, 0.964; 95% CI, 0.934 to 0.995; P<0.05), even after adjusting for factors such as maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, neonatal weight, analgesia, and oxytocin induction/augmentation.

Table 3 presents the baseline characteristics, TPU measurements, and obstetric outcomes of the participants, with the women divided into two groups based on whether they exhibited LAM coactivation. This was determined by a negative difference between the APD at Valsalva and the APD at rest [15]. The data revealed that women with LAM coactivation more frequently required operative vaginal delivery and episiotomy compared to those without LAM coactivation. Additionally, the second stage of labor was significantly longer in women with LAM coactivation than in those without it. The logistic regression analysis demonstrated that women with LAM coactivation were over five times more likely to experience a third- or fourth-degree tear during childbirth (OR, 5.857; 95% CI, 1.181 to 29.040; P<0.05) compared to women who exhibited normal LAM relaxation during the Valsalva maneuver. The logistic regression analysis also showed that women with LAM coactivation were over three times more likely to undergo an operative vaginal delivery (OR, 3.238; 95% CI, 1.543 to 6.797; P<0.05). Even after adjusting for factors such as maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, neonatal weight, analgesia, and oxytocin induction/augmentation, this risk remained significant (OR, 2.643; 95% CI, 1.221 to 5.724; P<0.05).

This study revealed that 25.29% of women received an episiotomy, while 28.45% experienced an obstetric laceration of the second degree or higher. Additionally, women who had an episiotomy demonstrated shorter levator hiatus diameters under the Valsalva maneuver, as assessed at term of gestation prior to the onset of labor via TPU. In a comparison between women with normal LAM function and those with coactivation of this muscle during the Valsalva maneuver, the latter group were found to experience a longer second stage of labor. They also more frequently required an episiotomy and were at an approximately threefold elevated risk of operative vaginal delivery. Moreover, they faced greater than a fivefold higher risk of sustaining a third- or fourth-degree tear during childbirth.

Episiotomy is a surgical incision of the vagina and perineum, performed by an experienced birth attendant to enlarge the vaginal opening [16]. Following the publication of evidence for restricting the use of episiotomy, the global rates of this procedure have generally decreased. However, substantial disparities remain among countries, with rates as low as 9.7% in Sweden and as high as 100% in Taiwan and Guatemala [17]. In this study, the prevalence of episiotomy was approximately 25%, lower than the 59.2% rate reported previously [11]. The present value is slightly higher than the overall rate in Italy, which is around 20% [18]. The reduction in episiotomy rates at the institute of the present study reflects the adherence to recommendations advocating for the selective use of episiotomy. However, recent research has explored the role of episiotomy in instrumental vaginal deliveries as a potential protective factor for the perineum. According to the most recent systematic review and meta-analysis, which included more than 700,000 patients, mediolateral or lateral episiotomy was found to reduce the rate of OASIS in instrumental vaginal deliveries, whether with ventouse or forceps [19]. Furthermore, some authors have found a positive correlation between episiotomy and improved neonatal condition at birth in cases of medically assisted vaginal delivery [20]. Interestingly, the World Health Organization noted in 2018 that determining an "acceptable" rate of episiotomy is challenging, indicating that subjective clinical judgment remains the key determining factor [21]. Before performing an episiotomy, the birth attendant should weigh the potential benefits, such as facilitating delivery for maternal or fetal indications, against the potential adverse effects of the procedure. These may include the extension of injury leading to third- and fourth-degree perineal tears [3,22], increased rates of infection, other anatomical complications such as fistula or narrowing of the introitus, and increased blood loss [23].

Another key finding of the present study is that approximately one in four women experienced a second-degree perineal tear. This type of perineal tear is receiving increased scrutiny in the literature, as recent studies have indicated that it can negatively affect women’s daily lives, including their sexual function, even beyond the initial 6 months postpartum [24-26]. Furthermore, the present study revealed an OASIS rate of approximately 3%, a figure that closely aligns with the frequency reported in England [27]. The most serious concern regarding OASIS is that this type of injury heightens the risk of subsequent loss of bowel control [28-31].

Given that the etiologies of pelvic floor disorders are frequently linked to pregnancy and childbirth, the prevention of episiotomy and OASIS is a desirable outcome related to childbirth. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies identified a range of risk factors for these disorders. For urinary incontinence, these factors included urinary incontinence during pregnancy, instrumental vaginal delivery, episiotomy, tears, and constipation. Meanwhile, risk factors for fecal incontinence included fecal incontinence during pregnancy, maternal age over 35 years, prenatal BMI greater than 30 kg/m2, instrumental vaginal delivery, spontaneous vaginal delivery, oxytocin augmentation, and birth weight exceeding 4,000 g [32]. The present study is the first to demonstrate that TPU conducted before the onset of labor can be used to identify women at elevated risk of requiring an episiotomy during childbirth. Specifically, this study found that these women had a significantly shorter LAM APD during the Valsalva maneuver. The final part of the second stage of labor, which involves the passage of the fetal head, is characterized by hyperdistention of the urogenital hiatus. This is enabled by adequate LAM relaxation during maternal pushing [4]. This finding could be noteworthy, as these women might benefit from pelvic training cycles targeting LAM function, even during pregnancy.

The other two ultrasound parameters that reflect the head station, namely the HPD and the AoP, were found to not be significantly associated with adverse obstetric outcomes when measured prior to labor. This finding may suggest that the HPD and AoP become more important during labor, particularly when analyzing the curves of fetal head descent in relation to the mode of delivery and the remaining duration of labor [33].

The LAM is a fan-shaped layer of striated muscle that plays a crucial role in defining vaginal anatomy and function. It forms a V-or U-shaped sling, with arms extending from each pelvic sidewall towards the posterior aspect of the anorectal junction. This muscle engages in various physiological functions during the Valsalva maneuver, a process involving forced expiration with a closed glottis, which results in a marked increase in intra-abdominal pressure. Depending on the physiological function required, the LAM can contract (for instance, to maintain continence), or relax in situations such as defecation, voiding, or vaginal birth [6]. In 2007, Orno and Dietz characterized LAM coactivation as when the distance between the inferoposterior rim of the symphysis pubis and the pubovisceral muscle component of the LAM during the Valsalva maneuver is less than that in the resting state. That study, which was part of broader research on pelvic floor function and anatomy during pregnancy, revealed that women with LAM coactivation had significantly lower bladder neck descent than women without coactivation [15]. More recently, Youssef et al. [4] investigated the correlation between LAM coactivation and labor outcomes. They found that LAM coactivation detected before labor was associated with an increased duration of the second stage of labor [34-36] and a higher fetal head station [37,38]. The present study is the first to evaluate the correlation between LAM coactivation at term pregnancy before labor and perineal trauma during vaginal birth. The findings align with the existing literature, confirming that women with LAM coactivation experience a longer second stage of labor [34-36]. Moreover, the data indicate that the most severe types of perineal trauma related to childbirth, namely episiotomy and OASIS, occur more frequently in women with LAM coactivation. Specifically, logistic regression analysis revealed that women who could not adequately relax the LAM during the Valsalva maneuver had more than five times the risk of experiencing a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear (OR, 5.857; 95% CI, 1.181 to 29.040) relative to women who could relax this muscle.

The present study revealed that women who co-contract the LAM during Valsalva are over three times more likely to require an operative vaginal delivery, with an OR of 3.238 (95% CI, 1.543 to 6.797). This finding deviates slightly from what is suggested in the literature. Multiple studies have indeed indicated that women with larger levator hiatal dimensions are relatively likely to have a spontaneous vaginal delivery [6,39]. Furthermore, Van Veelen et al. [5] demonstrated that smaller levator hiatal dimensions during pelvic floor contraction in a first pregnancy were associated with subsequent instrumental vaginal delivery or cesarean delivery due to failure to progress. However, the present data diverge from this focus on pelvic biometry, instead considering the coactivation of the LAM. This approach illuminates the impact of this phenomenon on the need for medical intervention during vaginal delivery.

The primary clinical implication of this study is that TPU may assist clinicians in identifying women with term pregnancy who are at elevated risk of requiring an episiotomy or developing severe spontaneous perineal trauma during childbirth. This information is highly relevant, as various techniques can be employed during labor to mitigate the risk of perineal trauma, including perineal massage [40], hands-on methods [41,42], and warm compresses [41]. However, even more intriguing is the potential to direct high-risk women (identified via antenatal TPU) towards pelvic floor interventions, such as pelvic floor muscle training and/or perineal massage, during pregnancy. It would then be possible to evaluate whether the clinical situation has improved by repeating the TPU following the pelvic floor intervention program. Moreover, if future studies corroborate these findings, clinicians should provide adequate counseling to women about the potential complications that can arise from vaginal delivery.

Recent interest in the coactivation of the LAM among researchers suggests a need for future studies focused on teaching women to relax this muscle during the Valsalva maneuver. New research has highlighted the importance of visual biofeedback as a tool that can enhance self-regulation in women. In a pilot study, laboring women who received epidural analgesia and visual biofeedback using TPU showed improved pushing efficacy, which led to a reduced incidence of perineal tearing. In that study, the authors clearly demonstrated to patients how the measured AoP, which reflects the descent of the head, changed during their pushing efforts. This suggests that the training process could benefit from active patient involvement [43]. This approach could be applied in future studies with the objective of increasing women's awareness of their pelvic floor muscles, particularly the LAM.

The present authors posit that pelvic training could potentially enhance labor outcomes for women who do not adequately relax the LAM during childbirth.

This study is the first to evaluate the potential utility of TPU performed prior to the onset of labor in predicting severe perineal lacerations, including episiotomy. Previous research has shown a strong association between LAM coactivation and a longer second stage of labor [34-36]. The present study not only corroborates this finding but also reports an increased probability of women with LAM co-contraction under Valsalva, assessed during the antenatal period, undergoing an operative vaginal delivery and developing OASIS. Another strength of the present study is the blinding of birth attendants to the TPU measurements. This approach prevented the potential influence of knowledge about the received intervention on the outcome measure. Furthermore, the increased levels of risk among women with LAM coactivation of operative vaginal delivery and severe perineal tear during childbirth were confirmed by multivariate logistic regression analysis. This analysis accounted for variables such as maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, neonatal weight, analgesia, and oxytocin use.

Several limitations in this study warrant discussion. First, the second stage of labor was not subdivided into the passive phase, which spans from full cervical dilation to the onset of active pushing, and the active second stage, defined as the period from active pushing to the delivery of the infant. As a result, the impact of LAM coactivation on the expulsive stage may have been biased. Second, additional measurements such as those of the urogenital area and the transverse diameter could have provided more specific insights into perineal properties. However, these ultrasonographic parameters are challenging to acquire and often require highly skilled operators. A third potential limitation pertains to the timing of the TPU. In this study, the decision was made to conduct the perineal assessment in the final weeks preceding delivery. It could, however, be fruitful to perform this scan earlier, providing ample time to attempt correction of the LAM coactivation through appropriate perineal training.

In summary, the present study demonstrates that women who require an episiotomy during childbirth typically have a shorter APD, as assessed through TPU prior to the onset of labor. Furthermore, inadequate relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles during antenatal Valsalva maneuvers is associated with an approximately threefold increase in the risk of requiring an instrumental vaginal delivery, and more than a fivefold increase in the risk of developing a third- or fourth-degree perineal tear.