Our treatment outcomes in bartholin cysts or abscesses

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the outcomes of Bartholin abscess or cyst surgery, silver nitrate therapy, and cyst or abscess excision in terms of recurrence, duration of the procedure, and healing times. The files of 100 patients treated in our hospital for Bartholin cysts or abscesses between March 2022 and December 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. The patients’ demographic characteristics were recorded. Demographic data, the location and size of Bartholin abscesses, complaints at presentation, and cases with recurrence were noted. The patients were divided into three groups according to the treatment applied and were compared with one another, especially in terms of recurrence, operative time, and recovery time. Group 1 consisted of those who underwent drainage due to Bartholin cyst or abscess, Group 2 of those treated with silver nitrate, and Group 3 of those who underwent cyst excision. Recurrence was detected in 12 (40%) of the cases in Group 1. Relapsed cases were treated with silver nitrate. Recurrence was observed in only one patient in the group treated with silver nitrate (Group 2). Bartholin cyst excision was performed on that patient. Mean operation times were 2.80 min in Group 1, 4.40 min in Group 2, and 23 min in Group 3 (p=0.0001). Mean recovery times were 3.37±0.49 days in Group 1, 6.13±0.73 days in Group 2, and 13.70±2.09 days in Group 3 (p=0.0001). A comparison of the patients in all three groups revealed that the recurrence rate was higher in the group receiving abscess drainage. While recurrence was observed in only one patient in the silver nitrate group, no recurrence occurred in the cyst excision group (p<0.001). This study emphasizes that silver nitrate application is a simple practical method that can be performed using local anesthesia, and involving minimal scar tissue, a faster procedure time, and faster recovery.