Bartholinitis after vulvovaginal surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The object of the study was to determine whether obstruction of the Bartholin gland duct after vulvovaginal surgery is a cause of Bartholin gland infections or cysts.

STUDY DESIGN: The records of patients with vulvovaginal surgical procedures performed by me between 1983 and 1997 were reviewed for evidence of a Bartholin gland infection or cyst formation.

RESULTS: A postoperative Bartholin gland infection occurred in 2 of 217 patients with posterior colporrhaphy (with or without vault suspension) and 1 of 14 patients with partial vestibulectomy for vestibulitis. No patient had a chronic Bartholin cyst develop.

CONCLUSIONS: Bartholin gland infections and Bartholin cysts are uncommon occurrences after surgical procedures that have the potential to obstruct the Bartholin duct.