Episiotomìa

gr. epìseion, regione pubica-genitale; e tomé, incisione

Incisione chirurgica del perineo che si effettua durante un parto per via naturale, allo scopo di ingrandire l’orifizio vaginale ed impedire così la rottura traumatica del perineo stesso, sebbene non tutti ammettano che la _ sia di protezione. Se indicata, secondo le Linee Guida dell’Associazione Americana Clinici Ostetrici e Ginecologi (ACOG-USA) l’episiotomìa va eseguita quando siano visualizzabili almeno 3-4 cm di testa fetale (in caso di presentazione cefalica) preferibilmente con adeguata anestesia, locale o spinale; è d’obbligo evitare di ledere l’apparato sfinteriale anale e il retto effettuando un’incisione mediolaterale e non mediana, applicando una pressione all’apice perineale in modo che non sia eccessiva l’estensione dell’episiotomìa stessa.

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