Outcome data
Outcome variables are listed in Table 2. An episiotomy was performed in 28.6%, with a mediolateral technique in 97.6%. In 16.9% of deliveries, an instrumental delivery was carried out, mainly by vacuum extraction (16.7%). Perineal lacerations of grade III or IV occurred in 7034 (2.8%) deliveries. Neonates were admitted to a NICU or paediatric ward in 3.7%. Perinatal mortality was 0.03%, including all fatalities that occurred intrapartum (n =9) and up to seven days postpartum (n =65). An antepartum IUFD was present in 324 (0.13%) vaginal deliveries.
Twenty-one percent (52 153) of parturients received EA. In women with EA, the median length of stay was 4 days compared to 3 days without EA. An episiotomy was more often performed with EA (33.6%) compared with no EA (27.3%; Table 1).