June 19, 2024 4:32 PM

Study finds lateral episiotomy lowers risk of childbirth injury

A new study has provided valuable insights into reducing the risk of a serious childbirth injury known as obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI). Researchers from Stockholm's Danderyd Hospital and Karolinska Institutet found that performing a lateral episiotomy, an angled incision in the tissue between the vaginal and anal opening, can more than halve the risk of OASI in first-time mothers requiring medical assistance during delivery. The findings, published in The BMJ, are based on a randomize...