Episiotomy

Episiotomy
A surgical procedure for widening the outlet of the birth canal to facilitate delivery of the baby and to avoid a jagged rip of the perineum (the area between the anus and the vulva, the opening to the vagina). During an episiotomy, an incision is made between the vagina and the rectum. The usual cut goes straight down and does not involve the muscles around the rectum or the rectum itself. An episiotomy can decrease the amount of maternal pushing, trauma to the vaginal tissues and expedite delivery of the baby when delivery is necessary quickly. The repair is straightforward and is fairly simple. However, episiotomy is also associated with a higher incidence of extensions or tears into the muscle of the rectum or even the rectum itself which is more difficult to repair and more painful for the mother. The typical healing time for an episiotomy is about 4-6 weeks depending on the size of the incision and the type of suture material
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Surgical incision of the vulva to prevent laceration at the time of delivery or to facilitate vaginal surgery. SYN: vaginoperineotomy. [episio- + G. tome, incision]

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epi·si·ot·o·my i-.piz-ē-'ät-ə-mē, -.pēz- n, pl -mies surgical enlargement of the vulval orifice for obstetrical purposes during parturition

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n.
an incision into the tissues surrounding the opening of the vagina (perineum) during a difficult birth, at the stage when the infant's head has partly emerged through the opening of the birth passage. The aim is to enlarge the opening in a controlled manner so as to make delivery easier and to avoid extensive tearing of adjacent tissues.

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epis·i·ot·o·my (ə-piz″e-otґo-me) [episio- + -tomy] surgical incision into the perineum and vagina to prevent traumatic tearing during delivery.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • episiotomy — 1878, from comb. form of Gk. epision the pubic region + TOMY (Cf. tomy) a cutting …   Etymology dictionary

  • episiotomy — [i pē΄zē ät′ə mē, ipiz΄ēät′ə ē] n. pl. episiotomies [< Gr epision, pubic region + TOMY] an incision of the perineum, often performed during childbirth to prevent injury to the vagina …   English World dictionary

  • Episiotomy — An episiotomy (pronEng|ɛˌpiːziːˈɒtəmiː) is a surgical incision through the perineum made to enlarge the vagina and assist childbirth. The incision can be midline or at an angle from the posterior end of the vulva, is performed under local… …   Wikipedia

  • episiotomy — UK [ɪˌpɪzɪˈɒtəmɪ] / US [ɪˌpɪzɪˈɑtəmɪ] noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms episiotomy : singular episiotomy plural episiotomies medical a cut made in a woman s vagina to make it larger so that she can give birth more easily …   English dictionary

  • episiotomy — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary episio vulva (from Greek epision pubic region) + tomy Date: 1878 surgical incision of the perineum to enlarge the vaginal opening for obstetrical purposes during the birth process …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • episiotomy — /euh pee zee ot euh mee, ep euh suy /, n., pl. episiotomies. Obstet., Surg. an incision into the perineum and vagina to allow sufficient clearance for birth. [1875 80; < Gk epísio(n) pubic region + TOMY] * * * …   Universalium

  • episiotomy — noun a surgical incision through the perineum made to enlarge the vagina and assist childbirth …   Wiktionary

  • episiotomy — n. surgical incision made into the vaginal tissues during childbirth (Medicine) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • episiotomy — [ɪˌpɪsɪ ɒtəmi, ɛ ] noun (plural episiotomies) a surgical cut made at the opening of the vagina during childbirth, to aid a difficult delivery. Origin C19: from Gk epision pubic region + tomy …   English new terms dictionary

  • episiotomy — ep·i·si·ot·o·my …   English syllables

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