Lateral episiotomy or no episiotomy in vacuum assisted delivery in nulliparous women (EVA): multicentre, open label, randomised controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To assess the effect of lateral episiotomy, compared with no episiotomy, on obstetric anal sphincter injury in nulliparous women requiring vacuum extraction.

Design

A multicentre, open label, randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Eight hospitals in Sweden, 2017-23.

Participants

717 nulliparous women with a single live fetus of 34 gestational weeks or more, requiring vacuum extraction were randomly assigned (1:1) to lateral episiotomy or no episiotomy using sealed opaque envelopes. Randomisation was stratified by study site.

Intervention

A standardised lateral episiotomy was performed during the vacuum extraction, at crowning of the fetal head, starting 1-3 cm from the posterior fourchette, at a 60° (45-80°) angle from the midline, and 4 cm (3-5

SUBMITTER: Bergendahl S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11307825 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature