Episiotomy: Differences in practice between family physicians and obstetricians.

A review of 2188 records compared the numbers and types of episiotomies and tears in low-risk women delivered by family physicians and obstetricians. Family physicians performed significantly fewer episiotomies and were more likely to rely on the mediolateral procedure; obstetricians varied episiotomy type more often. The rates of third-degree tears and intact perineum were very similar.