Comparison of Obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in nulliparous women before and after introduction of the EPISCISSORS-60® at two Hospitals in the United Kingdom

Aim: To assess whether the introduction of the EPISCISSORS-60®, episiotomy scissors specially designed to achieve a cutting angle of 40 – 60 °, would result in a reduction in obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS) in nulliparous women. Background: OASIS in the UK has tripled between 2000 – 2012. For an episiotomy to be effective in reducing OASIS it needs to be cut at 60 °. Only 22% of doctors and no midwife cut episiotomies at this angle. The EPISCISSORS-60® are designed to achieve a 60 °episiotomy angle at all times. The EPISCISSORS-60® were introduced in 2 hospitals in the UK and we present the data collec…