EPISIOTOMY
DEFINITION
Episiotomy is surgically planned incision given on
the perineum during second stage of labor to
enlarge the vaginal introitus, thereby facilitating
safe and easy delivery of the fetus.
OBJECTIVES
 To enlarge the size of vaginal orifice
 To prevent perineal tear
 To reduce stress and strain on fetal head
 To cut short second stage of labor
INDICATIONS
 Large fetus >4,000 g
 Preterm or small for gestational age baby in order to
minimize the risk of intracranial hemorrhage
 Presence of rigid perineum
 Face to pubis delivery, breech delivery or shoulder dystocia
 In fetal distress, to make the delivery fast
 When large lacerations seem inevitable
 In case of operative delivery like forceps/ventose
 Previous history of pelvic floor repair, perineal reconstructive
surgery
TIMING OF EPISIOTOMY
Bulging thinned perineum during contraction
along with bearing down efforts by the mother
just prior to crowning is the ideal time for giving
episiotomy.
TYPES OF EPISIOTOMIES
Mediolateral : incision is given downward and
outward from the midpoint of fourchette. The
cut may be given either toward right or left side
and about 2.5 cm.
Median/midline: The incision is given from the
center of fourchette and extends posteriorly. The
cut is 2.5 cm in length
Lateral: Incision starts from about 1 cm away
from the center of fourchette and extends
laterally.
J shaped: The incision starts from the centre
of fourchette and directed posteriorly
about 1.5 cm and then points downward
and outward along 5 or 7 o’ clock
ADVANTAGES
 MATERNAL BENEFITS
1. Clear incision is easy to repair
2. Healing is better than lacerated wound
3. Helps cut short the second stage of labor
4. Lessens the chance of trauma to the pelvis floor
muscles
5. Tear may be avoided
6. There is less stretching of and less damage to the
bladder, anterior vaginal wall and urethra
 FETAL BENEFITS
1. Episiotomy makes the birth safer and easier
2. It prevents intracranial birth injuries
COMPLICATIONS
 IMMEDIATE
1. Extension of episiotomy wound
2. Vulval hematoma
3. Infection
4. Recto-vaginal fistula/vesicovaginal fistula
5. Wound impairment
 REMOTE
1. Dyspareunia
2. Chances of perineal laceration in subsequent labor
3. Scar endometriosis
REPAIR OF EPISIOTOMY
 Requirement
Provide lithotomy position
A good source of light is needed
Instruct the mother to spread the thighs
Clean the perineal area with antiseptic solution
Drape the patient properly under aseptic precaution
Evacuate the uterine cavity for retained clots or placenta
Vaginal pack may be inserted and placed high up, if the wound site is
obscured by oozing of blood from above, but it must be documented and
removed , else it may lead to sepsis
 Suture material
Dexon or number ‘0’ chromic catgut is usually used to
repair episiotomy. It is an absorbable suture and is
spontaneously sheds off after 7-8 days of repair. Silk or
nylon (nonabsorbable) sutures may be used and
removed on 6th
day.
EPISIOTOMY SUTURING
 The sequence of episiotomy suturing is as follows:
a) Vaginal mucosa: it is sutured first. First inspect the apex of
tear and first suture is applied just above the apex.
Continuous suture is used to repair vaginal mucosa from
above downward till the fourchette is reached.
b) Perineal muscles: Interrupted sutures are used to repair
perineal muscle same from above downward till the
fourchette is reached.
c) Skin : Mattress suture or figure of eight is used to repair
skin.
EPISIOTOMY CARE
 Maintenance of perineal hygiene: instruct to clean
episiotomy wound after every urination and defecation.
 Provide perineal care twice daily and clean the episiotomy
wound with antiseptic solution
 Assess the wound healing status every time with REEDA scale
 If there is impaired wound healing, provide sitz bath using
MgSO4, moist and dry heat therapy or use analgesic drugs/
antibiotic therapy
 Do not sit with cross legs because stitches may break
 Instruct the mother to ambulate to avoid stretch on the
perineal wound
 If nonabsorbable sutures are used, stitches are removed
on 6th
day.
 Advise the mother for abstinence for 6 weeks after
delivery.

episiotomy is a surgical incision on the perineum during normal labor

  • 1.
  • 2.
    DEFINITION Episiotomy is surgicallyplanned incision given on the perineum during second stage of labor to enlarge the vaginal introitus, thereby facilitating safe and easy delivery of the fetus.
  • 3.
    OBJECTIVES  To enlargethe size of vaginal orifice  To prevent perineal tear  To reduce stress and strain on fetal head  To cut short second stage of labor
  • 4.
    INDICATIONS  Large fetus>4,000 g  Preterm or small for gestational age baby in order to minimize the risk of intracranial hemorrhage  Presence of rigid perineum  Face to pubis delivery, breech delivery or shoulder dystocia  In fetal distress, to make the delivery fast  When large lacerations seem inevitable  In case of operative delivery like forceps/ventose  Previous history of pelvic floor repair, perineal reconstructive surgery
  • 5.
    TIMING OF EPISIOTOMY Bulgingthinned perineum during contraction along with bearing down efforts by the mother just prior to crowning is the ideal time for giving episiotomy.
  • 6.
    TYPES OF EPISIOTOMIES Mediolateral: incision is given downward and outward from the midpoint of fourchette. The cut may be given either toward right or left side and about 2.5 cm.
  • 7.
    Median/midline: The incisionis given from the center of fourchette and extends posteriorly. The cut is 2.5 cm in length
  • 8.
    Lateral: Incision startsfrom about 1 cm away from the center of fourchette and extends laterally.
  • 9.
    J shaped: Theincision starts from the centre of fourchette and directed posteriorly about 1.5 cm and then points downward and outward along 5 or 7 o’ clock
  • 10.
    ADVANTAGES  MATERNAL BENEFITS 1.Clear incision is easy to repair 2. Healing is better than lacerated wound 3. Helps cut short the second stage of labor 4. Lessens the chance of trauma to the pelvis floor muscles 5. Tear may be avoided 6. There is less stretching of and less damage to the bladder, anterior vaginal wall and urethra
  • 11.
     FETAL BENEFITS 1.Episiotomy makes the birth safer and easier 2. It prevents intracranial birth injuries
  • 12.
    COMPLICATIONS  IMMEDIATE 1. Extensionof episiotomy wound 2. Vulval hematoma 3. Infection 4. Recto-vaginal fistula/vesicovaginal fistula 5. Wound impairment
  • 13.
     REMOTE 1. Dyspareunia 2.Chances of perineal laceration in subsequent labor 3. Scar endometriosis
  • 14.
    REPAIR OF EPISIOTOMY Requirement Provide lithotomy position A good source of light is needed Instruct the mother to spread the thighs Clean the perineal area with antiseptic solution Drape the patient properly under aseptic precaution Evacuate the uterine cavity for retained clots or placenta Vaginal pack may be inserted and placed high up, if the wound site is obscured by oozing of blood from above, but it must be documented and removed , else it may lead to sepsis
  • 15.
     Suture material Dexonor number ‘0’ chromic catgut is usually used to repair episiotomy. It is an absorbable suture and is spontaneously sheds off after 7-8 days of repair. Silk or nylon (nonabsorbable) sutures may be used and removed on 6th day.
  • 16.
    EPISIOTOMY SUTURING  Thesequence of episiotomy suturing is as follows: a) Vaginal mucosa: it is sutured first. First inspect the apex of tear and first suture is applied just above the apex. Continuous suture is used to repair vaginal mucosa from above downward till the fourchette is reached. b) Perineal muscles: Interrupted sutures are used to repair perineal muscle same from above downward till the fourchette is reached. c) Skin : Mattress suture or figure of eight is used to repair skin.
  • 17.
    EPISIOTOMY CARE  Maintenanceof perineal hygiene: instruct to clean episiotomy wound after every urination and defecation.  Provide perineal care twice daily and clean the episiotomy wound with antiseptic solution  Assess the wound healing status every time with REEDA scale  If there is impaired wound healing, provide sitz bath using MgSO4, moist and dry heat therapy or use analgesic drugs/ antibiotic therapy  Do not sit with cross legs because stitches may break
  • 18.
     Instruct themother to ambulate to avoid stretch on the perineal wound  If nonabsorbable sutures are used, stitches are removed on 6th day.  Advise the mother for abstinence for 6 weeks after delivery.