How cost-effective is it to leave perineal skin unsutured?

Journal article

This paper describes a cost-effectiveness evaluation based on a randomized controlled trial comparing two policies for surgical repair of perineal trauma. Data were collected for 1780 women who were randomly allocated to either a two-stage postpartum perineal repair policy leaving the skin unsutured (n=890) or a three-stage postpartum perineal repair policy that required suturing of the skin (n=890). The two-stage postpartum perineal repair policy was found to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes at 10days and at 3months, without leading to a significant increase in health-care costs. A widespread adoption of a two-stage postpartum perineal repair policy leaving the skin unsutured following perineal trauma is likely to represent a cost-effective use of health-care resources.

Authors: Petrou, S; Gordon, B; Mackrodt, C; Fern, E; Ayers, S

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Mark Allen Healthcare
• Journal: British Journal of Midwifery
• Volume: 9
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 209-214
• Publication date: 2001-04-01
• Acceptance date: 2000-09-22
• DOI: 10.12968/bjom.2001.9.4.8898
• EISSN: 2052-4307
• ISSN: 0969-4900
• Language: English