Outcomes of Routine Episiotomy

Outcomes of routine episiotomy: a systematic review.

CONTEXT Episiotomy at the time of vaginal birth is common. Practice patterns vary widely, as do professional opinions about maternal risks and benefits associated with routine use. OBJECTIVE To systematically review the best evidence available about maternal outcomes of routine vs restrictive use of episiotomy. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We searched MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied...

Selective versus routine use of episiotomy for vaginal birth

BACKGROUND Some clinicians believe that routine episiotomy, a surgical cut of the vagina and perineum, will prevent serious tears during childbirth. On the other hand, an episiotomy guarantees perineal trauma and sutures. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects on mother and baby of a policy of selective episiotomy ('only if needed') compared with a policy of routine episiotomy ('part of routine man...

The cost-effectiveness of routine versus restrictive episiotomy in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE This article provides the estimates of the cost implications of switching from routine to restrictive episiotomy in 2 provinces in Argentina (Santa Fe and Salta) from the viewpoint of the health provider. STUDY DESIGN A decision-tree model was constructed that used the probabilities and patient outcomes (the results of a trial in Argentina), resource use, cost, and local epidemiolog...

Episiotomy--should we continue it as routine practice.

A comparison between early maternal and neonatal complications of restrictive episiotomy and routine episiotomy in primiparous vaginal delivery

BACKGROUND Routine episiotomy is a controversial issue among gynecologists. The aim of this study was to compare early maternal and neonatal complications of restrictive episiotomy and routine episiotomy in primiparus vaginal delivery. METHODS In this descriptive cross-sectional study, two groups of primiparus normal vaginal delivery (NVD) cases with routine and restrictive episiotomy were st...