Evaluation of the effect of Teucrium polium ointment on the episiotomy wound healing in primiparous women

Abstract

Introduction: Episiotomy is a surgical incision at the vaginal opening performed in the second stage of labor during childbirth. The purpose of performing an episiotomy is to increase the size of the soft tissue of the pelvis floor and prevent damage to the perineum, facilitate delivery, and reduce the time during childbirth. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of Teucrium polium ointment on wound healing in primiparous women. Patients and Methods: This triple-blinded clinical trial was conducted on 84 primiparous women referred to Mahdieh hospital in Tehran. Participants randomly received 2% T. polium ointment and placebo. The first time the ointment was started 24 hours after delivery and continued twice a day for 10 days. Wound healing rate was measured by redness, edema, ecchymosis, discharge, and approximation (REEDA) scale on days 1, 5, and 10 postpartum. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. Results: The results were performed on 84 women, 43 people using T. polium ointment and 41 people using placebo ointment. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding obstetrics and demographic characteristics at the beginning of the study. The mean scores of REEDA in the T. polium group in the first 12 hours, days 5 and 10 were significantly different from the placebo group (P< 0.001). Conclusion: Wound healing following episiotomy can be accelerated due to antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties of T. polium ointment. Trial Registration: The trial protocol was approved by the Iranian registry of clinical trial (#IRCT20100130003226N18; https://en.irct.ir/trial/40004, ethical code# IR.SBMU.RETECH.1398.055).