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Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Removal of an Intravesical Gellhorn Pessary and Staged Repair of a Residual Large Vesico-Vaginal Fistula
Published on: April 14, 2026
Lesson of the week: perils of pessaries
Luke D Wheeler1, Rajeka Lazarus, Jared Torkington
1Department of Geriatric Medicine, Llandough Hospital, Penarth CF64 2XX, UK.
Abstract:
Vaginal pessaries are widely considered to be a safe alternative to surgery in older women. We report a case of near fatal septicaemia in a 75-year-old woman associated with a shelf pessary, the presence of which was identified during an exploratory laparotomy. This case highlights the importance of the gynaecological history and examination when assessing older women with septicaemia of unknown source.
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