Introduction: The execution of episiotomy is one of the reasons of perineum injuries during labour. It is defined as a cut through a perineum corpus with intent to expand vaginal way out during penetration of an fetus head. There are seven types of episiotomy. Lateral episiotomy is one of them. Purpose: The purpose of the diploma work is to present lateral episiotomy, its advantages/disadvantages in relation to other episiotomies and its application frequency. In addition, we were establishing the effect of the execution of lateral episiotomy on pain experience in the puerperium. Methods: In the diploma work we used the descriptive method with the systematic examination of scientific writings. During the research we used the time frame between 2000 and 2018. The writings were searched in English and Slovenian language in the databases: CINAHL, Medline, ScienceDirect, PROQUEST, Pubmed, Springer Link, Cochrane Library and COBISS. For the qualitative meta-synthesis we used 10 researches. The articles were estimated in the four-level ranking in respect of the power of proofs. Results: The results of the studies included in the meta-synthesis hint that lateral episiotomy protects women with greater risk, before the obstetric anal sphincter injuries, but it does not present the protection function of perineum during vacuum extraction. Lateral episiotomy does not induce stronger pain than mediolateral or midline episiotomy in the puerperium. Discussion and conclusion: Lateral episiotomy is an iatrogenic damage to the perineum that may affects woman’s quality of life, but may also prevent anal sphincter injury and subsequent fecal incontinence. It is important that the procedure is performed when the indications for it are present and the benefits outweigh the risks associated with it. For changes in Slovenian midwifery practice concerning the recommended type of episiotomy, further studie comparing of mediolateral and lateral episiotomy are needed.
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