Despite a national guidance to limit episiotomies, a USA Today investigation found many hospitals are still performing the procedure.
Five things to know:
1. An episiotomy is a procedure during which an incision is made at the vaginal opening to create more room for childbirth.
2. Since 2006, national guidelines have called for limiting the surgery after finding women are more likely to suffer severe complications with the procedure instead of allowing natural tears.
3. While a leading hospital safety group said episiotomies should not happen in more than 5 percent of vaginal deliveries, a USA Today examination of hospital billing data found dozens of hospitals had episiotomy rates of 20 percent or higher. Some had double that, according to the report, for reasons some experts say is due to outdated medical practices and an effort to speed up birth rates.
4. At the 553 hospitals USA Today analyzed, almost 240,000 women received the procedure over four years, with the highest rates found at big urban medical centers, midsized metropolitan hospitals and small rural hospitals.
5. NewYork-Presbyterian Queens in New York City recorded 40 percent of women who gave birth vaginally had undergone the procedure from 2014-17, the highest among hospitals studied by USA Today. In a statement to the publication, the hospital said, "NewYork-Presbyterian is deeply committed to reducing obstetric maternal mortality and morbidity."
More articles on healthcare quality:
Where are the 41 'straight-A' Leapfrog hospitals?
Where are the 9 Leapfrog 'F' hospitals?
Why Chicago's confirmed measles case is especially concerning