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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Sep 26.
Published in final edited form as: Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD000081. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000081.pub2

Comparison 3. Restrictive versus routine episiotomy (multiparae).

Outcome or subgroup title No. of studies No. of participants Statistical method Effect size
1 Number of episiotomies 4 2040 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.27 [0.23, 0.31]
  1.1 Midline 1 342 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.65 [0.50, 0.86]
  1.2 Mediolateral 3 1698 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.20 [0.17, 0.24]
2 Severe vaginal/perineal trauma 3 1973 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.14 [0.52, 2.48]
  2.1 Midline 1 342 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.19, 4.61]
  2.2 Mediolateral 2 1631 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.21 [0.49, 2.96]
3 Severe perineal trauma 3 1460 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.71 [0.28, 1.82]
  3.1 Midline 1 342 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.19, 4.61]
  3.2 Mediolateral 2 1118 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.61 [0.19, 1.97]
4 Any posterior perineal trauma 2 922 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.91 [0.83, 0.99]
  4.1 Midline 1 342 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.86 [0.76, 0.97]
  4.2 Mediolateral 1 580 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.94 [0.83, 1.05]
5 Any anterior trauma 2 922 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.61 [1.19, 2.18]
  5.1 Midline 1 342 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.57 [0.91, 2.71]
  5.2 Mediolateral 1 580 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 1.63 [1.13, 2.35]
6 Need for suturing perineal trauma 3 1692 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.78 [0.72, 0.83]
  6.1 Mediolateral 3 1692 Risk Ratio (M-H, Fixed, 95% CI) 0.78 [0.72, 0.83]