Decreased anal sphincter lacerations associated with restrictive episiotomy use.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether restrictive episiotomy use was associated with decreases in anal sphincter lacerations and the risk of anal sphincter laceration attributable to episiotomy.


METHODS
This was a retrospective database study. Rates of episiotomy, anal sphincter laceration (third- or fourth-degree tear), and other confounding variables were compared among vaginal deliveries before (1999) and after (2002) restrictive episiotomy use was implemented at our institution. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio of anal sphincter laceration that was due to episiotomy and other variables.


RESULTS
The episiotomy rate decreased 56% (37% to 17%, P < .001) between 1999 and 2002, whereas the anal sphincter laceration rate decreased 44% (9.7% to 5.4%, P < .001). There were no changes in age, race, nulliparity, prolonged second stage of labor, operative vaginal deliveries, birth weight, or macrosomia, although oxytocin use and epidural use decreased slightly (37% to 31%, P < .001, and 80% to 76%, P = .02, respectively). The adjusted odds ratio of anal sphincter laceration attributable to episiotomy decreased 55%, from 6.5 (95% CI: 3.8, 11.1) to 2.9 (95% CI: 1.7, 5.0), between 1999 and 2002. Conversely, the adjusted odds ratios of anal sphincter laceration attributable to the other independent risk factors all increased or remained the same: operative vaginal delivery, which increased from 4.4 (95% CI: 2.7, 6.9) to 6.3 (95% CI: 3.6 11.1); nulliparity, from 2.9 (95% CI: 1.8, 4.8) to 2.9 (95% CI: 1.4, 5.9); macrosomia, from 1.9 (95% CI: 1.1, 3.4) to 2.6 (95% CI: 1.3, 5.4); and prolonged second stage, from 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3, 3.0) to 2.1 (95% CI: 1.2, 3.7).


CONCLUSIONS
With restrictive episiotomy use, the episiotomy rate, anal sphincter laceration rate, and risk of anal sphincter laceration attributable to episiotomy were all reduced by approximately 50%.
Clemons
Jeffrey L
JL
Division of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Wash 98431, USA. jeffrey.clemons@nw.amedd.army.mil
Towers
Geoffrey D
GD
McClure
George B
GB
O'Boyle
Amy L
AL
D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D022125:Lacerations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies