title: Should we use a vaginal pack to reduce blood loss at the time of prolapse surgery?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vaginal packs are commonly inserted after pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery to absorb excess blood loss and to reduce haematoma formation. Randomised trials have shown little benefit in terms of reduced haematoma formation. However, the amount of blood loss absorbed on the pack has not been studied. The use of packs has financial costs and is associated with catheterisation and may delay hospital discharge. If packs are not effective in reducing blood loss and haematoma formation there could be an argument that packs should not be used at all. This study was designed to identify how much blood is actually absorbed onto packs after POP surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients undergoing elective vaginal surgery for POP were prospectively recruited by the lead author. Demographics were recorded. Vaginal packs inserted after POP surgery in 63 women were weighed before insertion and at the time of removal the day after surgery. Pain score were noted and the difference in the weight of packs recorded. Any complications were reported by the patients at the 6 week routine post operative visit and cross referenced with the clinical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant increase in pack weight of 6.7g (p<0.01). Five percent of the patients had a bleed of more than 25g into the pack. Removal of the pack was associated with minor discomfort. Complications in the post operative period were low with 11% of patients seen in the first 6 weeks with bleeding or discharge.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of women undergoing prolapse surgery have minimal bleeding onto a routinely introduced vaginal pack placed after POP surgery. Packs are probably not required for controlling post operative blood loss in the majority of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, Kent ME7 5NY, UK.
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Subramanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, Kent ME7 5NY, UK.
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Curtiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, Kent ME7 5NY, UK.
authors.forename: Aswini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Balachandran
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, Kent ME7 5NY, UK. Electronic address: jraduckett@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Duckett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006489:Hemostatic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D007045:Hysterectomy, Vaginal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D056887:Pelvic Organ Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Bleeding; Pelvic organ prolapse; Surgery; Vaginal pack