Transvaginal evisceration after hysterectomy: Is vaginal cuff closure associated with a reduced risk?

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 2006-03, Vol.125 (1), p.134-138
• Main Authors: Iaco, Pierandrea De, Ceccaroni, Marcello, Alboni, Carlo, Roset, Brunilde, Sansovini, Maddalena, D’Alessandro, Luigi, Pignotti, Elettra, Aloysio, Domenico De
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Closure; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Hysterectomy; Hysterectomy - adverse effects; Hysterectomy - methods; Hysterectomy, Vaginal - adverse effects; Hysterectomy, Vaginal - methods; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Surgery; Vagina - surgery; Vaginal cuff; Vaginal Diseases - etiology; Vaginal evisceration
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2005.08.009

To evaluate the overall incidence of transvaginal evisceration following hysterectomy and to assess the risk associated with indication, route of surgery, age and vaginal cuff closure technique. A database was used to identify all patients undergoing hysterectomy from 1995 to 2001 at our institution and all the patients admitted for vaginal evisceration during the same period. Each vaginal evisceration was analyzed for time of onset, trigger event, presenting symptoms, details of prolapsed organs and type of repair surgery. Of the 3593 patients enrolled in the study, 63.5% underwent abdominal hysterectomy, 33.0% vaginal hysterectomy, and 3.5% laparoscopic hysterectomy. Ten patients (0.28%) presented to the emergency room with vaginal evisceration. No statistical differences in evisceration rates were seen according to the route of surgery. No differences were found between the 1440 patients who had closure of the vaginal cuff and the 2153 who had an unclosed cuff closure technique. Our data suggest that, in young patients, sexual intercourse is to be considered the main trigger event before the complete healing of the vaginal cuff while, in elderly patients, the evisceration is a spontaneous event. Uterine prolapse was not associated with a higher rate and the route of surgery or vaginal cuff closure technique did not influence the dehiscence rate.