Vacuum-Assisted Closure for Episiotomy Dehiscence
Emeline M Aviki1, Rebecca Posthuma Batalden, Marcela G Del Carmen
1Vincent Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Background:
Episiotomy dehiscence can result in a large vulvovaginal defect not amenable to delayed primary closure.
Case:
A 26-year-old woman who underwent a forceps-assisted vaginal delivery with mediolateral episiotomy presented on postpartum day 5 with complete wound breakdown. Surgical exploration of the wound revealed a defect extending from the perineum into the vagina and deep into the ischiorectal fossa with poor tissue quality not amenable to a timely delayed primary closure. A vacuum-assisted closure device was used in lieu of traditional wound preparation and resulted in wound closure after 11 days of vacuum-assisted wound therapy.
Conclusion:
A vacuum-assisted closure device may be appropriate in cases of complex episiotomy breakdown and may expedite wound healing in the outpatient setting.
