Pelvic Floor Exercises for Suboptimal Anorectal Manometry post OASI

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises on Women with Suboptimal Anorectal Manometry Results after an Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (OASI)

  • IRAS ID

    353671

  • Contact name

    Dudley Robinson

  • Contact email

    dudley.robinson@nhs.net

  • Sponsor organisation

    Research & Development -Governance Manager

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    4 years, 7 months, 1 days

  • Research summary

    Currently, guidelines from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists stipulate that all women who have sustained an obstetric anal sphincter injury in a previous pregnancy and who are symptomatic or have abnormal endoanal ultrasonography and/ or manometry should be counselled regarding the option of an elective Caesarean section. An abnormal endoanal ultrasonography is currently considered to be a defect of the external anal sphincter (EAS) of more than 30 degrees while an abnormal anorectal manometry would be an incremental squeeze pressure of less than 20mmHg.

    We would like to evaluate if a course of guided pelvic floor exercises could improve anal sphincter function on those with suboptimal or abnormal anal incremental squeeze pressures, and subsequently expand their options for future modes of delivery (vaginal delivery not contraindicated)

  • REC name

    Yorkshire & The Humber - Sheffield Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/YH/0087

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 May 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion