Restricted episiotomy use and maternal and neonatal injuries: a retrospective cohort study

There is relatively little information on episiotomies in the context of restricted episiotomy use. This study sought to examine maternal and neonatal injuries with restricted episiotomy use.

We performed a retrospective database analysis of vaginal deliveries at a tertiary care maternity hospital from June 2010 to June 2015. Maternal injuries (third- or fourth-degree lacerations) and neonatal injuries (birth trauma) were identified through the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. Vaginal deliveries were classified as spontaneous, vacuum-assisted, or forceps-assisted. The associations between episiotomy and maternal and neonatal injuries were examined with stratification by parity, type of vaginal delivery, and type of episiotomy (midline or mediolateral). Adjusted-odds' ratios were calculated for maternal and neonatal injuries using a multiple logistic regression model to adjust for potential confounders.

22,800 deliveries occurred during the study interval involving 23,016 neonates. The episiotomy rate was 6.7 % overall and 22.9 % in operative vaginal deliveries. Episiotomies, both midline and mediolateral, were associated with increased risks of maternal and neonatal injuries regardless of parity (p < 0.0001). Upon stratification by the type of delivery, the association with maternal injury remained only for spontaneous vaginal deliveries (p < 0.0001). Adjusted-odds' ratios demonstrated a continued association between episiotomy and maternal [aOR 1.67 (1.39-2.05)] and neonatal injuries [aOR 1.43 (1.17-1.73)].

Episiotomy continues to be associated with increased third- and fourth-degree lacerations with restricted use, particularly in spontaneous vaginal deliveries.