Sonographic assessment of the vaginal vault following hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE
A prospective study to determine the sonographic appearance of the vaginal vault following hysterectomy.


METHODS
A transvaginal sonographic examination of the vaginal vault on the third postoperative day. Follow-up to determine the incidence of postoperative morbidity.


RESULTS
An accurate sonographic examination of the vaginal vault was possible in 66/71 cases (92.9%). Fluid collections were visible in 28/66 cases (42.4%), and measured up to 41.1 cm2 in the transverse plane and 30.2 cm2 in the sagittal plane. There was no correlation between the presence of a collection and indices of postoperative morbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Collections of fluid at the vaginal vault are common after hysterectomy, but do not usually contribute to postoperative morbidity.
Haines
C J
CJ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, New Territories.
Shan
Y O
YO
Hung
T W
TW
Chung
T K
TK
Leung
D H
DH
D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D015994:Incidence; D009017:Morbidity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*