Does episiotomy prevent perineal trauma and pelvic floor relaxation?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the outcomes of the current practice of liberally or routinely employing episiotomy to prevent perineal tears and pelvic floor relaxation (control group) to a policy of restricting episiotomy use to specific fetal and maternal indications (experimental group).


METHODS
A randomized controlled trial (RCT).


METHODS
Three university hospitals in Montreal.


METHODS
Seven hundred three low-risk women enrolled at 30 to 34 weeks of gestation were randomized late in labor to the designated trial arm, by parity, and followed up to 3 months postpartum.


METHODS
Antepartum and postpartum information on perineal trauma and pain, pelvic floor symptoms (urinary incontinence), and sexual activity was collected through the use of standard questionnaires; pelvic floor function was measured by electromyographic (EMG) perineometry.


RESULTS
Restricting episiotomy use in primiparous women was associated with similar sutured perineal trauma to the liberal or routine approach. Multiparous women in the restricted episiotomy group more often gave birth with an intact perineum (31% compared with 19%, odds ratio (OR) = 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.09 to 3.16). All but one 3rd/4th-degree perineal tear was associated with median episiotomy (46 of 47 in primiparous women and 6 of 6 among multiparous women). No difference between trial groups was found in postpartum perineal pain, antepartum and 3-month postpartum EMG perineometry, and urinary and pelvic floor symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no evidence that liberal or routine use of episiotomy prevents perineal trauma or pelvic floor relaxation. Virtually all severe perineal trauma was associated with median episiotomy. Restriction of episiotomy use among multiparous women resulted in significantly more intact perineums and less perineal suturing.
Department of Family Medicine, SMBD Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
M C
MC
Klein
R J
RJ
Gauthier
S H
SH
Jorgensen
J M
JM
Robbins
J
J
Kaczorowski
B
B
Johnson
M
M
Corriveau
R
R
Westreich
K
K
Waghorn
M M
MM
Gelfand
D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007748:Labor Stage, Second; D009123:Muscle Hypotonia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D010298:Parity; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control