Evaluation of the ease of use and acceptability of an innovative device - the 'Episiometer', in ensuring an accurate mediolateral episiotomy: a pilot study.

Evaluation of the ease of use and acceptability of an innovative device - the 'Episiometer', in ensuring an accurate mediolateral episiotomy: a pilot study. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2019 Jun 10;:1-6 Authors: Gupta S, Lugt BV, Vangaveti V, Kulkarni M, Rane A, Amoa AB Abstract The present study was undertaken at the Port Moresby General Hospital, Papua New Guinea, to evaluate the ease of use and acceptability of a perineal measuring device (Episiometer) for giving a correct length and angle of a mediolateral episiotomy. An Episiometer was placed on the perineum to guide the angle and length immediately before giving an episiotomy. A feedback survey was collected and the angle and length of the episiotomy were measured at the time of delivery and at 6 weeks postpartum. The length and angle of episiotomy were found to be accurate in 86% of the cases. Forty-two of the fifty (86%) clinicians felt that the Episiometer was easy or very easy to use. They also found this device to be beneficial (92%). The Episiometer seems to be an easy-to-use and feasible device that is well accepted by clinicians and patients and may aid in standardising the length and angle of an episiotomy. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Episiotomy is the commonest obstetric procedure performed worldwide. However, the angle and length of an episiotomy vary greatly amongst operators. It is also recognised that birth trauma and an inaccurate episiotomy r...
Source: Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology - Category: OBGYN Tags: J Obstet Gynaecol Source Type: research