Comparison of Incision Angle of Mediolateral Episiotomy at 40 and 60 Degrees (IAME)

Episiotomy is a surgical incision to the perineum in order to enlarge the vaginal orifice during the second stage of labor. Although seven types of episiotomy have been described in the literature , the most frequently performed types are the mediolateral and median episiotomies, with the former being the most common one. Despite being a common obstetric practice, the exact definition of a "mediolateral" episiotomy is often unclear. Several studies and reports, however, stated that a significant proportion of the so-claimed mediolateral episiotomy were not actually mediolateral. The current trial compares two angles of mediolateral episiotomy , regarding the risk of third- and fourth-degree perineal tearing, episiotomy-related pain and dyspareunia in primiparous women at a large tertiary maternity center, namely Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital, Cairo, Egypt.