ELECTROMYOGRAPHY WITH ACRYLIC PLUG SURFACE ELECTRODES AFTER DELIVERY

Pelvic floor neuromuscular function was evaluated with surface electro myography using acrylic plug electrodes and interactions between neuro muscular function and factors pertinent to the delivery process were e xplored. Fifty-two women who were primiparas participated in this pros pective cohort study. Circumvaginal and circumrectal muscles were asse ssed. Corrected vaginal-rectal flicks and holds were calculated. The r esults were compared by delivery route, birthweight, race, lactational status, and delivery anesthetic and to a group of nulliparous subject s. The mean interval from delivery was 46.3 days. Birthweight, race, l actational status, and anesthetic technique were not associated with s tatistically significant changes in electrical activity, although our ability to detect such differences was low due to the small number of subjects. Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick voltag e than those delivering abdominally. Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick and hold voltages and rectal flick voltage when c ompared with nulliparous women studied earlier. Abdominally delivered women had values similar to the nulliparous group. Women delivering va ginally had less surface electromyographic activity in the circumvagin al muscles, implying that vaginal delivery impairs the neuromuscular f unction of the pelvic floor.