title: [Episiotomy and prevention of complete and complicated tears. A study in 3 European countries].
abstract: The rates of third-degree tears in deliveries with and without episiotomy were compared in five samples: three French samples, a Belgian one and a Dutch one. Those samples corresponded to 48,430 single vaginal deliveries. The rates of episiotomy ranged from 29.3% to 54.2%. The results demonstrate that the risk of third-degree tears in vertex uncomplicated deliveries without episiotomy is low, and that in numerous cases third-degree tears are not prevented by an episiotomy. When uncomplicated deliveries of primipara were considered, results from four of the five samples showed that third-degree tears were not significantly more frequent in deliveries without episiotomy.
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D004841:Episiotomy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D009426:Netherlands; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk
vernacular_title: Episiotomie et prévention des déchirures complètes et compliqueées. Une étude dans trois pays européens.