Episiotomy and perineal repair practices among obstetricians in Greece

Objective

To assess current preferences regarding episiotomy and management of obstetric perineal injuries used by obstetricians in Greece, and to assess the impact of evidence-based information on everyday practices.

Methods

A questionnaire survey of obstetricians regarding episiotomy use and the management of obstetric perineal injuries.

Results

Fifty-one percent of obstetricians reported routinely performing an episiotomy during a normal vaginal delivery in primiparous women and 89% reported performing an episiotomy during vacuum-assisted deliveries. Forty-two percent of the respondents performed lateral, 44% mediolateral, and 14% midline episiotomies. Following an obstetric anal sphincter tear, half of the respondents recommended a vaginal delivery, regardless of bowel symptoms. There was significant heterogeneity of practices regarding the repair techniques of all obstetric perineal injuries.

Conclusion

The majority of obstetricians prefer to perform routine mediolateral and lateral episiotomies, for both normal and operative vaginal deliveries. The adoption of evidence-based information should be implemented while considering working and cultural backgrounds.