Effectiveness of Cold Compression for Treatment of Postpartum Perineal Injury: A Systematic Review

Authors

  • กฤษณา ปิงวงศ์ คณะพยาบาลศาสตร์ วิทยาลัยเชียงราย
  • กัญญาณัฐ สิทธิภา
  • ฐิติพร แสงพลอย

Keywords:

cold compression, perineal injury, postpartum, systematic review

Abstract

Abstract:
Perineal injury commonly occurs as a result of either spontaneous laceration or episiotomy, or both, during the vaginal and pelvic floor enlargement to facilitate delivery during childbirth. Perineal injury causes postpartum discomfort and pain, affecting both the mother and the newborn.

This systematic review presents a summary of the methods of cold compression and its effectiveness in treating postpartum perineal wounds. This review is based on a corpus of published and unpublished experimental and quasi-experimental research studies conducted from 2007 to 2017 on effectiveness of cold compression for postpartum perineal wound treatment, both in Thai and in English. The studies were appraised, and their main fndings were extracted, using standardised tools developed by the Joanna
Briggs Institute. The quality of the studies and the validity of the extracted fndings were then examined by the researcher and co-researcher. The acquired data were analysed using the narrative summary approach because the studies had been conducted using different methodologies, which adopted varied outcome evaluation methods practiced over different periods of time.

Eight research studies met the inclusion criteria: fve randomised experimental studies with control groups and three quasi-experimental studies. The most common forms of cold compression were ice, cold packs and cold sanitary napkins, all of which were found to signifcantly reduce postpartum perineal pain. Of the three forms, cold packs were identifed by mothers as being signifcantly more satisfactory than ice.

Based on the review’s fndings, any of the three forms of cold compression can be chosen for treatment of postpartum perineal pain, at the recommended temperature of 10 to 15 degrees Celsius for 10 to 15 minutes per session. Also, further studies of the effectiveness of cold compression in larger sample groups are recommended.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

References
1. Aasheim V, Nilsen A, Lukasses M, Reinar LM. Perineal techniques during the second stage of labour
for reducing perineal trauma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev [Internet]. 2011 Dec (Cited 2018 Jan 30);7(12). Available from: https://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/protocol_2BD74D8782E26AA2006
2. Blondel B, Alexander S, Bjarnadóttir RI, Gissler M,Langhoff‐Roos J, Novak‐Antolic Z, et al. Variations
in rates of severe perineal tears and episiotomies in 20 European countries: a study based on routine national
data in Euro‐Peristat Project. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 09 Mar 2016. doi: 10.1111/aogs.1289485
3.Kartal B, Kizilirmak A, Calpbinici P, Demir G.Retrospective analysis of episiotomy prevalence. J
Turk Ger Gynecol Assoc 2017; 18(4): 190–4.
4. KwankasikarnN,BaosoungC,ParisanyakunS.Effect of perineal massage on perineal trauma in normal childbirth. Nursing Journal. 2015; 37(1): 96-107.(in Thai)
5.Lowdermilk DL, Perry SE, Cashion K, Alden KR.Maternity & women’s health care. 11th ed. St.Louis: Elsevier Mosby; 2016.
6.Steen M. Perineal tears and episiotomy: How do wound heal?.Br J Midwifery 2007; 15(5): 273-9.
7.Kapoor DS, Thakar R, Sultan AH. Combined urinary and faecal incontinence. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic
Floor Dysfunct 2005; 16(4): 321-8.
8. GreenshieldsW,HulmeH.Theperineuminchildbirth: a survey conducted by the National Childbirth Trust.
NCT London,1993.
9. Moayedi M, Davis KD. Theories of pain: from specifcity to gate control [internet]. 2013 Jan 01 (cited
2019 Jul 19). Available from https://www.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/jn.00457.2012
10.Christine EE, Lisa B, Naomi EH, Paul M, Karen W. Local cooling for relieving pain from perineal trauma
sustained during childbirth [internet]. 2012 May 16 (cited 2018 Feb 28). Available from https://www. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD006304.pub2/abstract; jsessionid
11.Joanna Briggs Institute. Critical Appraisal Tool [internet]. (cited 2018 Feb 28). Available from https://joannabriggs.org/research/critical-appraisaltools.html
12.Kummatid A, Markrat M. Using the systematic review to provide a complete summary on a research question in evidence-based practice: A 3-step method. The Southern College Network Journal of Nursing and Public Health. 2009; 3(3): 246-59.(in Thai)
13.Steen M, Marchant P. Ice packs and cooling gel pads versus no localised treatment for relief of perineal
pain: a randomised controlled trial [internet]. 2009 Jan 6 (cited 2018 Oct 28). Available from https://
www.rcm.org.uk/learning-and-career/learningand-research
14.Navviba S, Abedian Z, Steen M. Effectiveness of cooling gel pads and ice packs on perineal pain. Br J Midwifery 2009; 17(11): 724-29.
15.Leventhal LC, Cuce MR, Barbosa FM. Perineal analgesia with an ice pack after spontaneous vaginal birth: a randomized controlled trial. J Midwifery Womens Health 2011; 56(2): 141-46.
16.Dube J. Effect of application of ice on episiotomy. Asian J Edu and Research 2013; 3(4): 207-10.
17.Francisco AA, De Oliveira SMJV, Steen M, Nobre MRC, De Souza EV. Ice pack induced perineal analgesiaafterspontaneousvaginalbirth:randomized controlledtrial.WomanBirth.2017;31(5):334-40.
18.Derya KS, Ergul A. The effects of cold application to the perineum on pain relief after vaginal birth.
Asian Nurs Res. 2017; 11(4): 276-82.
19.JanmaneeT,YusamranC,RatinthornA,Phahuwatanakorn W. Effects of cooling and heat application on
perinealinflammationandpaininpostpartummothers. Nursing Science Journal of Thailand. 2014; 32(4):
25-34. (in Thai)
20.Prarom S, Sittijumlong O, Jaikwang H, Wannawat P, Maneerat P, Aatchaichan D, Sanjai K. Effect of
cold compress with cold normal saline pad and cold pad sterile water on perineum pain and edema in post
partum period. Nursing Journal of The Ministry of Public Health. 2015; 25(1): 133-43. (In Thai)

Downloads

Published

2020-01-09

How to Cite

1.
ปิงวงศ์ ก, สิทธิภา ก, แสงพลอย ฐ. Effectiveness of Cold Compression for Treatment of Postpartum Perineal Injury: A Systematic Review. J Thai Nurse midwife Counc [Internet]. 2020 Jan. 9 [cited 2024 Nov. 23];35(1):75-8. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/TJONC/article/view/192544

Issue

Section

Research Articles