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 is done occasionally to enlarge the vaginal opening so that a baby can be more easily delivered.

Description:

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

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

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

Indications:

An episiotomy may be needed if the baby's head is too big for the mother's vaginal opening, or the baby is in a breech position (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.

Review Date: 5/23/2005
Reviewed By: Sharon Roseanne Thompson, M.D., M.P.H., Clinical Fellow, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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