Pregnancy Outcomes of Healthy Parturients Delivered with or Without Episiotomy
Kovavisarach, E.; Laiamnuay, J.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 100(Suppl 1): S70-S76
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 29927193 Document Number: 17469
The use of episiotomy, a previously popular obstetric procedure, has been declining for the last 25 years, falling from 65% of deliveries in 1979 to 18% in 2003. Some complications have been reported in terms of maternal side effects; however, many episiotomies are still performed in Rajavithi Hospital. To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes and complications in the 48-hour period after vaginal delivery in A historical cohort study was conducted by reviewing the medical records of 920 healthy parturients Most parturients were parous cases (711/920, 77.3%). Gestational age, number of nulliparae, and duration of 2nd stage of labor were significantly higher in the episiotomy group. Third and fourth degree perineal tear was significantly higher in the episiotomy group than in the non-episiotomy group (21.0%: 0.0% and 20.2%: 0.0%; p<0.001) in nulliparous women, but there was no difference inparous patients. Wound infection within 48 hours postpartum was similar in parous parturients in the episiotomy and non-episiotomy groups while there was no wound infection in the nulliparous group. Mean birthweight in the episiotomy group was significantly higher than in the non-episiotomy groups (3,064.95±418.44 gm vs. 2,940.15±486.61 gm; p<0.001). Other neonatal outcomes and complications were similar in the two groups. Incidence of second, third and fourth degree perineal tear was significantly higher in the episiotomy group than in the non-episiotomy group.