A Dedicated Perineal Clinic – An Audit in Support

Aims To assess the quality of care in both the initial management of obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) and subsequent follow up postnatally in a tertiary maternity hospital without direct access to a perineal clinic. Methods Medical records were reviewed over a one-year period in University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) to determine the characteristics of patients sustaining OASI, how and where the repair was undertaken, the complications recorded and their follow up in the postpartum period. This pathway of care was compared with care currently available in three dedicated perineal clinics nationally. Results There were 44 patients with OASI recorded over a one-year period in UMHL. The majority were diagnosed in primiparous women having an operative vaginal delivery (OVD). Only 23 of 44 women had a documented review postnatally. Conclusion Audit of OASI is paramount to providing the best standard of care for affected women. It also aids clinician training and will be important in the establishment of a dedicated perineal clinic in UMHL.