Treatment of a bartholin abscess

Cyst or abscess of a bartholin gland

Diagnostic

Inflammatory tumor, the size of a small egg, affecting the folds of the labia.

Material

Sterilised drapes and gloves, scalpel, dissecting forceps, scissors, needle holder, hooked needle, resorbable suture material, and sterile compresses.

Technique

· A large vertical incision, at the muco-cutaneous junction, rather than on the inside of the labia.

· Clean with polyvidone iodine (see table page 7).

· Marsupialisation of the gland or cyst, that's to say, the walls of the gland is sutured to the skin, to keep it open and to prevent recurrence.

FIGURE