Vaginal rupture is a violation of the integrity of the vaginal walls. Most often, this pathology occurs during childbirth, but it can also occur during various gynecological and obstetric operations, during rough intercourse, when falling onto sharp objects, etc. As a rule, a gap is observed in the lower and upper parts of the vagina and is accompanied by damage to the perineum. The middle part is most rarely injured, since it has greater elasticity and is less fixed.
Causes of vaginal rupture during childbirth
- High location of the crotch.
- Short or, on the contrary, prolonged labor.
- Narrowed vagina.
- The presence of scars on the tissues of the vagina.
- Inflammatory processes.
- Lack of elasticity of the ligaments.
Diagnosis and symptoms
The main and only sign that a rupture of the vaginal wall has occurred is heavy bleeding. Diagnosis of the arising pathology does not cause special difficulties and does not take much time. As a rule, a vaginal rupture is visible to the naked eye or using special mirrors.
Treatment
Rupture of the vagina requires surgery, which occurs immediately after birth. Before the operation, the place where the stitches will be applied is treated with an antiseptic solution. The woman is anesthetized (local, epidural or intravenous), the doctor begins to close the gaps.
After operation
To prevent discrepancies and suppuration of sutures, the open vagina (or more precisely, the genitals) should be treated with disinfectant solutions (potassium permanganate, chlorhexidine) at least 3 times a day for 2-3 days. If deep gaps were found, then they are treated with antibiotics and douching with the same solutions for 3-4 days after delivery.
It must be borne in mind that in this case, a young mother is prohibited to sit for 1.5-2 weeks. For 1.5-2 months, a woman is contraindicated in sexual relations.
Prevention
To prevent vaginal rupture, a woman in labor must follow all the recommendations of the doctor who is giving birth, especially during the appearance of the baby's head. Also an important factor that will help prevent damage to the walls of the vagina is the correct and careful implementation of operations that help a woman give birth (the use of obstetric forceps, extraction, etc.). If vaginal rupture is unavoidable, then the obstetrician must perform a perineotomy - surgical excision of the vaginal tissues along the midline, or an episiotomy - dissection of the labia majora 2 centimeters in depth on both or one side. They resort to these actions in order to quickly heal the wound, since the cut edges "take root" to each other better than lacerations and injuries.
Most clinical studies have shown that psychoprophylactic preparation for childbirth plays an important role in the prevention of ruptures . There is also evidence that in order to prevent tears in the vaginal tissue, a lysade solution is administered.