Effect of perineal hot compress in the second stage of labor:a Meta-analysis

WANG Yueting; HUANG Rong; CAI Chenting

doi:10.12102/j.issn.2095-8668.2024.18.003

Abstract：Objective:To systematically evaluate the effect of perineal hot compress in the second stage of labor.Methods:The relevant literatures were retrieved from Web of Science,PubMed,EMbase,CNKI,WanFang Database and CBM.The search period was up to September 6,2023.Two researchers conducted a Meta-analysis after literature screening and literature quality evaluation.Results:A total of 12 articles were included.The Meta-analysis results showed that perineal hot compress can alleviate perineal pain during the second stage of labor(OR=1.04,95％CI 0.88-1.21,P＜0.000 1),reduce perineal pain on the first day after delivery(OR=0.31,95％CI 0.22-0.42,P＜0.000 1),and alleviate the degree of perineal swelling after delivery(OR=0.46,95％CI 0.36-0.59,P＜0.000 1);perineal hot compress can increase perineal integrity rate(RR=2.49,95％CI 1.94-3.20,P＜0.000 01),reduce the postpartum perineal injury rate of grade Ⅲ and Ⅳ injury(RR=0.40,95％CI 0.23-0.68,P=0.000 7).reduce the rate of perineal lateral incision(RR=0.59,95％CI 0.51-0.69,P＜0.000 01).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the duration of the second stage of labor(MD=-1.26,95％CI-2.94-0.41,P=0.14)and the degree of perineal pain on the second day after delivery(MD=0.13,95％CI-0.98-1.25,P=0.82)between the experimental group and the control group.Conclusion:Existing evidence suggests that perineal hot compress can reduce the severity of perineal injury,perineal lateral incision rate,postpartum perineal swelling,duration of the second stage of labor,and perineal pain on the first day after delivery.This suggests that in clinical nursing interventions,perineal hot compress can be given during the second stage of labor according to the actual situation of pregnant women to alleviate pain and improve delivery related outcome indicators.