A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHROMIC CATGUT VERSUS VICRYL RAPIDE FOR EPISIOTOMY REPAIR IN PRIMIGRAVIDA

Background: Episiotomy is a surgical incision which is made in the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening for child birth.The choice of suture material used for episiotomy repair plays a pivotal role in the healing process. Suture materials should provide adequate tensile strength, facilitate tissue approximation, minimize tissue reaction, and eventually dissolve without the need for removal. Two commonly used absorbable sutures for episiotomy repair are Chromic Catgut and Vicryl Rapide. These materials differ signicantly in terms of their handling properties, absorption rates, and tissue reactions. Understanding their comparative effectiveness is essential for optimizing postpartum recovery. Aim: This study aims to investigate the comparative outcomes of using Chromic Catgut 1-0 versus Vicryl Rapide 2-0 for episiotomy repair in primigravida women. By focusing on key outcomes such as perineal pain, wound healing, and complications, this research seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations for clinical practice. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted in Department of OBG, Ballari st st Medical College and Research Centre, Ballari, between 01 August 2023 to 31 January 2024. Aminimum of 240 cases were included in the study. The local Institutional Board of Ethics approved the study and after taking an informed written consent and after fullling the inclusion criteria patients were enrolled for the study. Results: The results were studied by comparing perineal pain,edema, temperature, redness, and wound discharge between Vicryl Rapide and Chromic Catgut groups at postnatal days PND 2, 7, and 42. The results demonstrated that women in the Vicryl Rapide group had signicantly lower rates of edema, redness, wound discharge, and temperature elevation compared to those in the Chromic Catgut group at various time points. These ndings suggest that Vicryl Rapide may lead to better healing outcomes and reduced post procedural complications. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that Vicryl Rapide2-0 was superior to Chromic Catgut1-0 for episiotomy repair in primigravida women, offering signicant advantages in terms of reduced perineal pain, better wound healing, and reduced post procedural complications. Vicryl Rapide2-0 showed faster recovery, with a statistically signicant reduction in pain levels on postnatal days 2 and 7 compared to Chromic Catgut. Additionally, the Vicryl Rapide2-0 group exhibited lower rates of edema, redness, wound discharge, and temperature elevation, which suggests better wound healing and fewer complications. Although both suture materials facilitated healing over the postpartum period, Vicryl Rapide2-0 consistently outperformed Chromic Catgut1-0 in terms of patient comfort and wound recovery