Perineal trauma following operative vaginal delivery without episiotomy.

摘要

Traditionally, an episiotomy is routinely performed at the time of an operative vaginal delivery (OVD) but recently some obstetricians are applying a more selective approach. Uncertainty regarding the influence of withholding episiotomy upon the incidence and nature of perineal injury and specifically obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASIS) prompted us to examine the practice within our department, a city centre, teaching maternity unit delivering approximately 5500 women per annum.