Episiotomies (EP) and perineal lacerations (PL) following vaginal delivery can lead to complications such as pain, edema, and infection. Currently, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, baths, and ice packs are recommended for treatment. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) has emerged as a promising technology for pain management and scar healing in EP and PL. This is a cohort observational study conducted at the Maternal and Child University Hospital of the Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil. PBM adjuvant therapy is routinely applied at the bedside daily throughout the postpartum hospitalization. PBM is routinely offered to all postpartum patients during hospitalization. Patients may choose to accept or decline the use of analgesic PBM in addition to the standard therapeutic measures provided by the hospital (anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, baths, and ice packs). All patients who underwent EP or suffered grade 2 and 3 PL over six months are evaluated. We will analyze the data from patients who accepted the use of PBM and those who declined the use of PBM regarding the presence of pain, local healing of perineal lacerations, and episiotomies. The primary outcome is the daily pain assessment using the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS) before and after PBM (hospital standard). The secondary outcome is the evaluation of perineal healing using the REEDA scale. Initially, data distribution will be tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparisons of NPS and REEDA scores between groups that received laser therapy and those that did not received will be performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, considering study covariates. Epidemiological and clinical data (age, sex, marital conditions, type and characteristics of labour (spontaneous or induced), newborn weight, presence of clinical complications during hospitalization ) collected directly in the patients' medical records to characterize the sample. All analyses will be conducted using SPSS 24.0 software, with a significance level of 95%.
Episiotomies (EP) and perineal lacerations (PL) following vaginal delivery can lead to complications such as pain, edema, and infection. Currently, anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, baths, and ice packs are recommended for treatment. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBM) has emerged as a promising technology for pain management and scar healing in EP and PL. This is a cohort observational study conducted at the Maternal and Child University Hospital of the Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil. PBM therapy is routinely applied at the bedside daily throughout the postpartum hospitalization. It is standard practice at the hospital to offer adjuvant PBM in addition to the standard treatment (anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, baths, and ice packs). However, the use of PBM is optional for patients during hospitalization. The PBM parameters are: laser with a wavelength of 808 nm and a power of 100 mW applied at 5 points around the PL or EP for a total application time of 5 minutes. PBM is routinely offered to all postpartum patients during hospitalization. Patients may choose to accept or decline the use of analgesic PBM in addition to the standard therapeutic measures provided by the hospital (anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, baths, and ice packs). All patients who underwent EP or suffered grade 2 and 3 PL over six months period are evaluated. Since PBM is routinely offered to patients, after approval by the ethics committee, the principal investigator, monitored all included participants at the hospital and collected routine hospital data from medical records regarding the outcomes. We will analyze the medical record data related to the outcomes for statistical analysis. We will analyze the data from patients who accepted the use of PBM and those who declined the use of PBM regarding the presence of pain, local healing of perineal lacerations, and episiotomies. The outcomes will be analyzed by comparing the following participant subgroups: 1. participants who declined to receive PBM in addition to the hospital's standard treatment, and 2. participants who accepted to receive PBM in addition to the hospital's standard treatment. The primary outcome is the daily pain assessment using the Numerical Pain Scale (NPS) before and after PBM (hospital standard). The secondary outcome is the evaluation of perineal healing using the REEDA scale. Initially, data distribution will be tested using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Comparisons of NPS and REEDA scores between groups that received laser therapy and those that did not will be performed using repeated-measures ANOVA, considering study covariates. All analyses will be conducted using SPSS 24.0 software, with a significance level of 95%. Epidemiological and clinical data (age, sex, marital conditions, type and characteristics of labour (spontaneous or induced), newborn weight, presence of clinical complications during hospitalization ) collected directly in the patients' medical records to characterize the sample and evaluate factors influencing the response to PBM regarding the assessed outcomes
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
183
Photobiomodulation (PBM) is a non-invasive therapy that uses low-level light, typically from lasers or Light Emission Diodes (LEDs), to stimulate cellular function and promote healing. It works by delivering specific wavelengths of light to target tissues, which enhances mitochondrial activity and increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. PBM is commonly used for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and accelerating tissue repair in conditions like muscle injuries, arthritis, and skin disorders.
Medical team evaluations are conducted daily throughout the hospitalization period, and anti-inflammatory medications (ketoprofen ), analgesics (dipyrone), and, in cases where vulvar edema is observed, ice packs are prescribed. In addition to the standard treatment described, the health care team routinely offers patients the use of laser therapy (photobiomodulation) once a day during hospitalization. Patients who agree to the laser therapy receive both treatments.Patients who do not accept receiving PBM receive exactly only the same standard routine care described. These protocols are standardized at the hospital, and this observational study did not interfere with any care practices.
Hospital Universitário Materno-Infantil da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa
Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil
Cutaneous pain
Perception of local cutaneous pain in the perineum, assessed daily by physiotherapists before and after each PBM session by Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS)
Time frame: before and after each PBM session during the 3 days of hospitalization
Assessment of perineal lesion healing
Assessment of perineal lesion healing using the REEDA scale daily
Time frame: Daily during hospitalization (3 days)
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