Effects of different delivery modes evaluated by three-dimensional ultrasound on levator hiatus after postpar-tum

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1674-3806.2015.10.04

Abstract：Objective To investigate the changes in the size and shape of the levator hiatus in postpartum women with different delivery methods by transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound(3D).Methods Sixty-five post-partum women after 42~45 days postpartum between December 2013 and December 2014 were included in this stud-y, with 30 cases in the cesarean group and 35 cases in the normal delivery group.25 cases of nulliparous women were included in the control group.The images of rest phase and Valsalva phase were collected.The changes in the size and shape of the levator hiatus of the two phases were observed, and the morphological parameters were measured. Results In the rest phase and Valsalva phase, the transversal diameter, anteroposterior diameter and areas in both of the cesarean group and the normal delivery group were significantly greater than those in the control group.The thicknesses of the bilateral puborectalis of the above two groups were significantly smaller than those of the control group( P<0.05 ) .The transversal diameter, anteroposterior diameter and area of the normal delivery group were greater than those of the cesarean group, and the thickness of the bilateral puborectalis of the normal delivery group was significantly smaller than that of the cesarean group(P<0.05).Conclusion Levator hiatus becomes bigger and lavatory ani muscle becomes thinner in a postpartum woman than those in a nulliparous woman.Levator hiatus be-comes bigger and lavatory ani muscle becomes thinner in a normal delivery woman than those in a cesarean woman. Transperineal 3D ultrasound is an effective imaging method for showing levator hiatus in postpartum women.