Experience with an obstetric perineal clinic

Objective: To review the characteristics of patients attending a dedicated perineal clinic in a maternity hospital. Methods: Case-note review of all new referrals over 2 years 1998 and 1999. Results: A total of 399 women were referred with mean age of 34 years (range 1877), parity of 1.7 (range 1-13) and duration of symptoms of 14 (range 1-156) months. A total of 213 (53%) women were assessed following a recognized third degree perineal tear, 78 (20%) because of fecal incontinence, 45 (11%) for determination of future mode of delivery following a previous perineal injury, 37 (9%) women for treatment of perineal pain and 26 (7%) for other miscellaneous complaints. A total of 83 (21%) required physiotherapy, 42 (11%) received dietetic manipulation, 29 (7%) were treated for perineal pain and 12 (370) underwent vaginal surgery. A total of 24 (6%) women were referred for consideration of secondary anal sphincter repair and 11 (3%) for specialist gastroenterological investigation. Conclusions: The perineal clinic provides a valuable resource for investigation and treatment of postpartum perineal injury. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.