RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the Episcissors-60 on obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) rates. STUDY DESIGN: Observational multi-centre time series analysis at four maternity units in the North-East of England. The main outcome measures were obstetric anal sphincter injury rates and delivery blood loss. RESULTS: Data were analysed for women who had a vaginal birth of a singleton pregnancy before (11,192) and after (8064) the introduction of the Episcissors-60. There were 2115 episiotomies before and 1498 after the introduction of the Episcissors-60, of which 1311 (87.5%) were undertaken with the Episcissors-60, 114 (7.6%) with other scissors and the scissors used were not stated in 73 (4.8%) women. There was no significant association between the introduction of Episcissors-60 and the performance of an episiotomy (χ2â¯=â¯0.006, p â¯=â¯0.94). Episiotomy was associated with a significant reduction in OASI rates (1.9% Vs 2.8%, odds ratioâ¯=â¯0.67 [0.51 - 0.86]; pâ¯=⯠0.001). There was no significant association between the introduction of the Episcissors-60 and the occurrence of OASIs in all women (χ2â¯=â¯0.6, pâ¯=⯠0.46) or in women who had an episiotomy (χ2â¯=â¯0.20, p = 0.71). In women who had an episiotomy, the mean estimated delivery blood loss was 550.3⯱â¯8.2â¯ml before and 598.8⯱â¯10.9â¯ml after the introduction of the Episcissors-60 (pâ¯<⯠0.001). CONCLUSION: Introduction of the Episcissors-60 was not associated with a change in OASI or episiotomy rates but may be associated with a small increase in delivery blood loss.