Episiotomy and third-degree tears.
The relation of episiotomy to third-degree perineal tears was investigated in 21 278 singleton deliveries. The incidence of episiotomy was 28.4% (n = 6041). Third-degree tears occurred in 1.4% (85) of the deliveries with episiotomy and in 0.9% (132) of the deliveries without episiotomy (P less than 0.01). To avoid the effect of confounding factors, we analysed a sub-sample that included only vertex presentations with spontaneous occipitoanterior vaginal deliveries. After stratification for birthweight and parity, no relation between episiotomy and third-degree tear was found.
D001724:Birth Weight; D001946:Breech Presentation; D004841:Episiotomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010298:Parity; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk