Episiotomy

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Episiotomy - series

Overview

Recovery

Risks

Episiotomy

Definition:

Episiotomy is a procedure where the skin between the vagina and the anus (the perineum) is cut. It isdoneoccasionally to enlarge the vaginal openingso that a baby can be more easily delivered.

Description:

Just before the baby is born, the obstetrician numbs the vaginal area and makesone of two cuts:

A medliolateral cut isangled down away from the vagina and into the muscle.
A midline cut is made straight down between the vagina and anus.

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The cut makes thevaginal opening bigger.It is closed after the baby and placenta have been delivered.

Indications:

An episiotomy may be needed ifthebaby's head is toobig for the mother's vaginal opening, or the baby is in a breechposition (feet or buttocks coming first)and there is a problem during delivery.

References:

Hartmann K, Viswanathan M, Palmieri R, Gartlehner G, Thorp J Jr, Lohr KN. Outcomes of routine episiotomy: a systematic review. JAMA. 2005 May 4;293(17):2141-8.

American Pregnancy Association. Episiotomy. Available at: http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/episiotomy.html. Accessed May 12, 2005.