A comparative study to assess the effectiveness of medicated and non-medicated sitz bath on episiotomy wound healing among postnatal mothers at govt. Smgs maternity hospital, Jammu (J&K)

Episiotomy is a common surgical planned incision on the perineum and the posterior vaginal wall during the second stage of labour to enlarge the vaginal introitus so as to facilitate easy and safe delivery of the fetus, to minimize the overstretching and rupture of perineal muscles and fascia and to reduce the stress and strain on the fetal head. Episiotomy also helpful in reduction in duration of second stage of labor. The first performance of episiotomy was done in 1742, when perineal incisions were used to facilitate deliveries.7 Pritchard, MacDonald and Gant 1985, described that episiotomy reduces the incidence of cystocele, rectocele and stress incontinence. In cases where an episiotomy is indicated, a medio lateral incision may be preferable to a median (midline) incision as the latter is associated with a higher risk of injury to the anal sphincter and the rectum.8