Comparison of Vicryl Rapide Versus Chromic Catgut for Episiotomy Repair

A significant proportion of women benefit from episiotomy, but it’s also associated with short and long-term postpartum morbidities like perineal pain due to lacerations and scar formation after repair. The current study was designed to rule out the variations regarding pain and analgesia requirement. Objective: To evaluate outcome of vicryl rapide sutures versus chromic catgut sutures for episiotomy repair in terms of pain and analgesia requirement. Methods: In this randomized control trial from March to September 2021, a total of 206 females (103 in each group) were enrolled and the data was collected after taking informed consent. Episiotomy in all females was done by a single senior consultant. Subjects were randomly assigned one of two sutures. In Group-A females were managed by vicryl rapide 2-0 (36mm, 1/2circle double reverse cutting and round bodied needle) females. in group-B were managed by chromic catgut 1.0 (30 mm, 0.5 circle round bodied needle). Both groups were compared in terms of pain and analgesic requirement. Results: Comparison of pain in vicryl rapide sutures versus chromic catgut after repair of episiotomy showed that 32.0% (n=33) in Group-A and 49.5% (n=51) in Group-B had pain after 48 hours (p value = 0.01). Analgesia requirement at day 7 was recorded in 20.4% (n=21) in Group-A and 66.0%(n=68) in Group-B (p = <0.000). Conclusions: We concluded that vicryl rapide has a better outcome as compared with chromic catgut in repair of episiotomy in terms of pain and analgesic requirements.