Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

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Evidence found and GRADE certainty

144 questions · 146 findings · 34 reviews · Pregnancy and Childbirth

No studies found 17 · 11.6%GRADE not reported 23 · 15.8%Very low 58 · 39.7%Low 35 · 24%Moderate 11 · 7.5%High 2 · 1.4%

Warm compresses vs control (hands off or no warm compress)

Perineal trauma requiring suturing · pregnant women expecting a vaginal birth, singleton vertex presentation at term, with no medical complications

It is very uncertain whether warm compresses changes perineal trauma requiring suturing compared with control (hands off or no warm compress) (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Lateral postures vs other postures

Severe perineal tears (3rd degree or higher, as defined by trialists) · fetal malposition in labour

It is very uncertain whether lateral postures changes severe perineal tears (3rd degree or higher, as defined by trialists) compared with other postures (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Hands and knees posture vs other postures

Severe perineal tears (3rd degree or higher, as defined by trialists) · fetal malposition in labour

It is very uncertain whether hands and knees posture changes severe perineal tears (3rd degree or higher, as defined by trialists) compared with other postures (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Low‐cavity forceps vs any vacuum cup

Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth

It is very uncertain whether low‐cavity forceps changes third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) compared with any vacuum cup (very low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Soft cup vs rigid cup

Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth

Soft cup showed no clear difference in third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) compared with rigid cup (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Handheld vacuum vs any vacuum cup

Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth

Handheld vacuum showed no clear difference in third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) compared with any vacuum cup (moderate certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Any type of forceps vs any vacuum cup

Third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) · Women in the second stage of labour, requiring an assisted vaginal birth

Any type of forceps may leads to higher third‐ or fourth‐degree perineal tear (with or without episiotomy) compared with any type of vacuum cup (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics vs placebo or no treatment

Infected episiotomy/laceration (superficial perineal wound infection) № of participants: 3420 (1 RCT) · Women undergoing operative vaginal delivery

Any antibiotics leads to lower infected episiotomy/laceration (superficial perineal wound… compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Antibiotics vs placebo or no treatment

Infected episiotomy/laceration (deep perineal wound infection № of participants: 3420 (1 RCT) · Women undergoing operative vaginal delivery

Any antibiotics leads to lower infected episiotomy/laceration (deep perineal wound infection № of… compared with placebo or no treatment (high certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Labour induction vs expectant management

Severe perineal tears (3rd degree or higher, as defined by trialists) · pregnant women at or beyond 37 weeks gestation

Labour induction showed no clear difference in perineal trauma (severe perineal tear) compared with expectant management (maternal outcomes) (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review

Selective vs routine episiotomy: all vaginal births where operative vaginal delivery was not anticipated

Severe perineal/vaginal trauma · Women in labour where operative delivery was not anticipated. (Women were above 16 years old and between 28 gestational weeks and full…

Selective may leads to lower severe perineal/vaginal trauma compared with routine episiotomy: all vaginal births where operative vaginal… (low certainty).

1 finding from 1 review