ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of new delivery method of fetal head on the vaginal and perineal laceration at vaginal delivery. METHODS: In this prospective clinical trial of 291 parturients with singleton pregnancy at or more than 37 weeks' gestation, pregnant women were radomely assigned to classical delivery method (control group) or new delivery method (study group) of the fetal head from September 1999 to August 2000 at Chonnam National University Hospital. The frequency and degree of vaginal and perineal lacerations at vaginal delivery were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Perineal lacerations of the 3rd or 4th degree was developed in 20 women (13.8%) among 145 cases of control group and 6 women (4.1%) among 146 cases of study group (P<0.01). Vaginal wall laceration was developed in 55 women (37.9%) of the control group and 37 women (25.3%) of the study group (P<0.01). The incidence of the laceration of perineum and vaginal wall was significantly lower in the study group than that of control group. CONCLUSION: The new delivery method of fetal head was effective for reducing the laceration of perineum and vaginal wall at full-term vaginal delivery.