This app has been developed in the Pelvic Floor Unit of Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León (Spain). It measures the episiotomy´s characteristics. Episiotomy refers to a surgical incision of the female perineum performed at the time of parturition. It is usually performed with scissors when the perineum is stretched and distended, just prior to crowning of the fetal head. The purpose is to increase the diameter of the soft tissue pelvic outlet, thereby preventing perineal lacerations, facilitating delivery, and reducing the time for expulsion of the infant.
The purported benefits of episitomy include the reduction in third and fourth degree tears. Retrospective studies have reported mediolateral episiotomy was associated with a two- to six-fold reduction in these injuries compared to no episiotomy or a midline episiotomy, and one sphincter injury would be prevented for every five forceps (or 12 vacuum) deliveries performed with mediolateral episiotomy. Studies have shown that certain characteristics of episiotomy protect in to varying degrees of obstetric sphincter injuries (OASIS), especially in instrumental deliveries.
This app allows to measure the angle of episiotomy and ,after inserting the length of episiotomy, the distance episiotomy-fourchette and the distance of perineal body, calculate the perimeters and areas of triangles formed between the midline episiotomy. This features allow to establish the risk associated with OASIS in every episiotomy.
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Kalis V, Stepan J Jr, Horak M, Roztocil A, Kralickova M, Rokyta Z. Definitions of mediolateral episiotomy in Europe. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2008;100:188–9.
Andrews V, Thakar R, Sultan AH, Jones PW. Are mediolateral episiotomies actually mediolateral? BJOG 2005;112:1156–8.
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Kalis V, Landsmanova J, Bednarova B, Karbanova J, Laine K, Rokyta Z. Evaluation of the incision angle of mediolateral episiotomy at 60 degrees. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2011;112:220–4.
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Kalis V, Karbanova J, Horak M, Lobovsky L, Kralickova M, Rokyta Z. The incision angle of mediolateral episiotomy before delivery and after repair. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2008;103:5–8.