Examining the Association Between Episiotomy and Severe Perineal Tears in a Tertiary Care Center Implementing a Restrictive Episiotomy Policy.

Background Perineal lacerations are feared complications of vaginal delivery, especially the severe types (third- and fourth-degree tears). World Health Organization (WHO) recommended restrictive episiotomy practice after alarming literature linked the increase in severe tears with routine episiotomy. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the association between episiotomy and the incidence of third- and fourth-degree perineal tears and infections in women who underwent episiotomy versus those who did not at a tertiary care center implementing the restrictive episiotomy policy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.