Background Increasing cesarean section (CS) rates are a global concern because they are related to higher maternal and neonatal complication rates and do not provide positive childbirth experiences. In 2019, Brazil ranked second globally, given its overall CS rate of 57%. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), populational CS rates of 10–15% are associated with decreased maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality rates. This study aimed to investigate whether multidisciplinary care following evidence-based protocols associated with a high motivation of both women and professionals for a vaginal birth leads to less overuse of CS in a Brazilian private practice (PP). Methods This cross-sectional study evaluated CS rates by Robson group for women who sought vaginal birth in a private practice in Brazil comparing with Swedish data. Collaborative care of midwives and obstetricians who adopted evidence-based guidelines was offered. CS rates, overall and by Robson group, contribution of each Robson group to the overall CS rate, clinical and nonclinical interventions, vaginal birth, pre-labor CS, and intrapartum CS proportions were estimated. The expected CS rate was calculated using the World Health Organization C-model tool. The analysis used Microsoft Excel and R Studio (version 1.2.1335. 2009–2019). Results The PP overall CS rate was 15.1% (95%CI, 13.4–17.1%) versus the 19.8% (95%CI, 14.8–24.7%) rate expected by the WHO C-model tool. The population included 43.7% women in Robson Group 1 (nulliparous, single, cephalic, at term, spontaneous labor), 11.4% in Group 2 (nulliparous, single, cephalic, at term, induced labor or CS before labor), and 14.9% in Group 5 (multiparous women with previous CS), the greatest contributors to higher CS rates (75.4% of them). The Swedish overall CS rate was 17.9% (95%CI, 17.6–18.1%) in a population of 27% women in Robson Group 1, 10.7% in Group 2, and 9.2% in Group 5. Conclusions Multidisciplinary care following evidence-based protocols, associated with high motivation of both women and professionals for vaginal birth, may lead to a significant and safe reduction of CS rates even in contexts such as Brazil, with high medicalization of obstetric care and excess CS.
Background: Levator ani avulsion is defined as the interruption of the insertion of this muscle on the pubic bone. It is currently recognized as an important triggering factor for genital prolapse. Although surgical interventions are available, there are no conservative strategies for this muscular injury. Description: A 40-year-old female presented with urinary incontinence and levator ani avulsion, which was confirmed on transperineal three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS). Upon referral for physiotherapy, she presented with incorrect and weak contractions of the pelvic floor. Her treatment comprised 13 sessions of intravaginal electrotherapy followed by pelvic floor muscle (PFM) exercises in different positions. At the end of the sessions, another transperineal 3DUS was performed, and it revealed rapprochement of the levator ani muscle. The avulsed levator ani muscle can be reinserted using physiotherapeutic interventions, especially a combination of electrotherapy and PFM exercises. Conclusion: Transperineal 3DUS is an important approach for the follow-up of conservative treatment until full recovery.
Background The increasing rates of cesarean sections (CS) in places with adequate access to health care are a global concern because they are related to higher rates of maternal and neonatal complications and do not provide a positive childbirth experience for women. The objective is to highlight the possibility of achieving CS rates acceptable by WHO standards, such as Nordic countries, following evidence-based protocols in Brazil. Methods A cross-sectional study evaluated CS rates by Robson Groups for women who sought vaginal delivery in a private health practice in Brazil, comparing the rates with Swedish data. A collaborative practice with midwives and obstetricians adopting evidence-based guidelines was offered. The overall CS rate, CS rate by Robson group, contribution of each Robson group to the overall CS rate, clinical and nonclinical interventions and vaginal birth, pre-labour CS and intrapartum CS proportions were estimated. The expected CS rate for the population was calculated by the WHO c-model tool. The analysis used Microsoft EXCEL and the software "R Studio" (version 1.2.1335. 2009-2019). Results The overall CS rate was 15.1% (as expected by the WHO c-model tool) in a population composed of 43.7% women in Robson Group 1, 11.4% in Group 2 and 14.9% in Group 5, the greatest responsible for higher rates of CS, who altogether contributed to 75.4% of all cesarean sections. Conclusions Multidisciplinary care following evidence-based protocols, associated with a high motivation of both women and professionals of childbirth care for a vaginal route for delivery, may lead to a significant and safe reduction of CS rates, obtaining better results even in contexts such as Brazil, where there is high medicalization of obstetric care and excess of CS.
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