Bacterial Contamination at Abdominal Hysterectomy: A Comparison of Staple Closure with Regular Suture Closure of the Vaginal Vault

ABSTRACT

Bacterial contamination of the pelvis from the vagina at abdominal hysterectomy is assumed to be a major cause of infectious complications. A pilot study was completed to compare the bacterial contamination that occurred when the vaginal vault was closed using an automatic stapling technique with a regular suture method. The findings suggested that there was considerably less contamination using the staple technique and that infectious complications were associated with heavy bacterial contamination from the vagina. More extensive studies of this association are needed to confirm the presented data. (J GYNECOL SURG 7:233, 1991)