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Childbirth puts enormous pressure on the perineum (the area between a woman’s vagina and anus) which must stretch to accommodate the baby's head. This pressure can cause the perineum to tear. Care You Should Expect to Receive - High quality care for a vaginal delivery should minimize the risk of perineum tears. Tears can occur on their own or when medical instruments such as a vacuum or forceps are used. Some tears heal quickly and cause little or no discomfort. More severe tears may cause discomfort, require stitches, and can take months to heal. Complications - Patients who experience a vaginal tear during delivery are at risk for complications such as:
How Will This Help Me? When patients receive high quality care, they are more likely to achieve a good medical outcome (result). This can lower a patient’s risk for complications. |  |
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Our report will tell you how successful Minnesota hospitals are in avoiding perineum tears when childbirth occurs with the aid of medical instruments. Vaginal Tear Rates - Tear rates do not always represent medical errors. Some hospitals may experience a greater number of patients with tears because they handle more complex deliveries. Our tear rate information is shown as a comparison between a hospital’s actual tear rate and the rate expected for that hospital. A rate that is the “Same” or “Better” than expected signifies high-quality care. About Our Report - Our Care Results reports are based on quality measures developed by the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ), and made available on HealthScores by the Minnesota Hospital Association. This report is based on information from hospital patient medical records for services provided between October 2010 and September 2011. Your hospital’s rating will vary depending on how many patients achieved a good medical outcome. Talk with your care team if you have questions or concerns. |  |
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