Pelvic floor ultrasound finds after episiotomy and severe perineal tear: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: Vaginal delivery is a well-known risk factor for pelvic floor muscle (PFM) injuries, mainly when associated to prolonged labor, instrumental birth and perineal trauma such as episiotomy and perineal tears. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to test the hypothesis that episiotomy and severe perineal tear may increase the risk of pelvic floor damage.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search through electronic databases including MEDLINE PubMed, LILACS BVS, Embase Elsevier and Cochrane Library up to January 2019.