Episiotomy and the second stage of labour.

The use of episiotomy emerged with the advent of "modern obstetrics". Few of the benefits attributed to it have been sustained by scientific study. The author of this article explores the interrelationship between episiotomy and other interventions in the second stage of labour and makes a plea for a reassessment of our management of this stage of labour. In particular, he questions the place of episiotomy in the prevention of pelvic floor relaxation.