Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Passing Of Gas Through Vagina Post Bartholin's Cyst Removal?
Question: Hello -
I recently (June 18) had surgery to remove Bartholin's (sp?) gland. The surgery should have taken only an hour but ended up taking closer to 3 because "it was very involved". Apparently the surgeon had to work on not only the area involved with the gland but also towards the rectum as well. Now 5 weeks post-op, the stitches (2 sets - 1 internal / 1 external) are still there, I am going for my 4th post-op check-up in a few days and have just developed alarming symptoms.
If I feel "gaseous" - it doesn't "escape" the usual route, but rather via the vagina. And just today (Sunday) after suffering several bouts of loose bloody stools, I noticed that the pad that I was wearing was also soiled with loose stool that had come through the vagina.
I am obviously extremely alarmed and have put an emergency call in to the practice but I am thinking I need a second opinion. Thank you so much in advance for any help you may forward my way.
XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
I recently (June 18) had surgery to remove Bartholin's (sp?) gland. The surgery should have taken only an hour but ended up taking closer to 3 because "it was very involved". Apparently the surgeon had to work on not only the area involved with the gland but also towards the rectum as well. Now 5 weeks post-op, the stitches (2 sets - 1 internal / 1 external) are still there, I am going for my 4th post-op check-up in a few days and have just developed alarming symptoms.
If I feel "gaseous" - it doesn't "escape" the usual route, but rather via the vagina. And just today (Sunday) after suffering several bouts of loose bloody stools, I noticed that the pad that I was wearing was also soiled with loose stool that had come through the vagina.
I am obviously extremely alarmed and have put an emergency call in to the practice but I am thinking I need a second opinion. Thank you so much in advance for any help you may forward my way.
XXXXXXX XXXX
YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
Rectal-vaginal fistula.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Unfortunately you do suffer from very bad complication which is a fistula between vagina and the rectum. It is clear that the surgery were too close to the rectum or you have never had Bartholins cyst infection but active connection between the rectum and vagina.
This condition is not life threatening. But its treatment can be quite hard and can take long time.
First of all you should have colonoscopy done to see if there is no inflammation in your rectum (which can be the main reason of this fistula).
Secondly surgical repair of this fistula can be tried. However in some patients there is a need for temporal stoma creation to heal the fistula. But this is the worst possibility.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Rectal-vaginal fistula.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Unfortunately you do suffer from very bad complication which is a fistula between vagina and the rectum. It is clear that the surgery were too close to the rectum or you have never had Bartholins cyst infection but active connection between the rectum and vagina.
This condition is not life threatening. But its treatment can be quite hard and can take long time.
First of all you should have colonoscopy done to see if there is no inflammation in your rectum (which can be the main reason of this fistula).
Secondly surgical repair of this fistula can be tried. However in some patients there is a need for temporal stoma creation to heal the fistula. But this is the worst possibility.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
