eMedicine Specialties > Clinical Procedures > Obstetric and Gynecologic Procedures

Drainage, Bartholin Abscess

Author: Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Windham Community Memorial Hospital, Willimantic, CT; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 21, 2009

Introduction

Bartholin abscesses and cysts account for 2% of all gynecological visits per year.1 The Bartholin glands are a pair of pea-sized, vulvovaginal, mucous-secreting vestibular glands that are located in the labia minora in the 4- and 8-o’clock positions, beneath the bulbospongiosus muscle. A Bartholin cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in one of the Bartholin glands or ducts when the duct that drains the fluid from the gland becomes blocked and causes the duct and gland to swell. A Bartholin gland abscess develops either when a Bartholin cyst becomes infected or when the Bartholin gland itself becomes infected.2 For more information on disorders of the Bartholin gland, please see Bartholin Gland Diseases and Benign Vulvar Lesions.

Different techniques exist for the treatment of Bartholin cysts and abscesses.3,4 Use of the Word catheter is favored.5,6 If a Word catheter is not available, incision and drainage (with traditional packing) may be performed.

Indications

  • Selected Bartholin cysts
    • Diameter of 1 cm or larger
    • Any symptomatic cyst (painful, tender, interferes with physical or sexual activity)
  • Any Bartholin abscess

Contraindications

  • Absolute - None
  • Relative - Complex or recurrent abscess that requires general anesthesia in the operating room

More on Drainage, Bartholin Abscess

Overview: Drainage, Bartholin Abscess
Treatment & Medication: Drainage, Bartholin Abscess
Multimedia: Drainage, Bartholin Abscess
References
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References

  1. Pundir J, Auld BJ. A review of the management of diseases of the Bartholin's gland. J Obstet Gynaecol. Feb 2008;28(2):161-5. [Medline].

  2. Singh N, Thappa DM, Jaisankar TJ, Habeebullah S. Pattern of non-venereal dermatoses of female external genitalia in South India. Dermatol Online J. Jan 15 2008;14(1):1. [Medline].

  3. Marzano DA, Haefner HK. The bartholin gland cyst: past, present, and future. J Low Genit Tract Dis. Jul 2004;8(3):195-204. [Medline].

  4. Cobellis PL, Stradella L, De Lucia E, Iannella I, Pecori E, Scaffa C, et al. Alcohol sclerotherapy: a new method for Bartholin gland cyst treatment. Minerva Ginecol. Jun 2006;58(3):245-8. [Medline].

  5. Hill DA, Lense JJ. Office management of Bartholin gland cysts and abscesses. Am Fam Physician. Apr 1 1998;57(7):1611-6, 1619-20. [Medline]. [Full Text].

  6. Omole F, Simmons BJ, Hacker Y. Management of Bartholin's duct cyst and gland abscess. Am Fam Physician. Jul 2003;68(1):135-40. [Medline].

  7. Lowenstein L, Solt I. Bartholin's cyst marsupialization. J Sex Med. May 2008;5(5):1053-6. [Medline].

  8. Woida FM, Ribeiro-Silva A. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin gland: an overview. Arch Pathol Lab Med. May 2007;131(5):796-8. [Medline].

  9. Yang SY, Lee JW, Kim WS, Jung KL, Lee SJ, Lee JH, et al. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the Bartholin's gland: report of two cases and review of the literature. Gynecol Oncol. Feb 2006;100(2):422-5. [Medline].

  10. Gonzalez-Bugatto F, Anon-Requena MJ, Lopez-Guerrero MA, Baez-Perea JM, Bartha JL, Hervías-Vivancos B. Vulvar leiomyosarcoma in Bartholin's gland area: a case report and literature review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. Feb 2009;279(2):171-4. [Medline].

  11. Gadducci A, Cionini L, Romanini A, Fanucchi A, Genazzani AR. Old and new perspectives in the management of high-risk, locally advanced or recurrent, and metastatic vulvar cancer. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. Dec 2006;60(3):227-41. [Medline].

  12. Lopez-Zeno JA, Ross E, O'Grady JP. Septic shock complicating drainage of a Bartholin gland abscess. Obstet Gynecol. Nov 1990;76(5 Pt 2):915-6. [Medline].

  13. Cunningham G, Leveno KJ, Bloom SL, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 22nd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2005.

  14. Lindsay K. Reichman E, Simon RR, eds. Emergency Medicine Procedures. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2004.

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Further Reading

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Keywords

Bartholin abscess, Bartholin's gland, abscess, abscesses, abscess treatment, Bartholin cyst, Word catheter, Bartholin gland drainage, Bartholin gland swelling, incision and drainage, abscess drainage, cyst drainage, Bartholin gland, cyst treatment, vulvar cyst, vulvar abscess, vulva abscess

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Windham Community Memorial Hospital, Willimantic, CT; Attending Physician, Emergency Department, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Gil Z Shlamovitz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine and American College of Emergency Physicians
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Andrew K Chang, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center
Andrew K Chang, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Neurology, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from financial planner; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from financial planner ; WebMD Salary and stock Employment and investment from financial planner

Managing Editor

Luis M Lovato, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; Director of Critical Care, Department of Emergency Medicine, Olive View/UCLA Medical Center
Luis M Lovato, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Rick Kulkarni, MD, Medical Director, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Section of Emergency Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Rick Kulkarni, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, American Medical Informatics Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine
Disclosure: WebMD Salary Employment

Chief Editor

David Chelmow, MD, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tufts University School of Medicine; Program Director, Tufts University Affiliated Hospitals OB/GYN Residency Program; Chair, Tufts University Health Sciences Campus Institutional Review Board; Vice Chair for Research and Education, Dept of OB/GYN, Tufts Medical Center
David Chelmow, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association, Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and Society for Medical Decision Making
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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