Imperforate hymen causing pyocolpos in an infant

The Dangers of Hymenotomy for Imperforate Hymen: A Case of Iatrogenic Pelvic Inflammatory Disease with Pyosalpinx

BACKGROUND

Complications associated with imperforate hymen include cyclical abdominal pain, acute urinary retention, endometriosis, and even iatrogenic infections.

CASE

A 14-year-old young woman was diagnosed with an imperforate hymen, hematocolpos, and right hematosalpinx. A hymenotomy was performed, followed by a hymenectomy 3 days later. On postoperative day 7, she was admitted for pelvic inflammatory disease with a right pyosalpinx. The infection was refractory to intravenous gentamicin, ampicillin, and clindamycin so the patient underwent computed tomography-guided drainage of the pyosalpinx. Two days later, she was discharged home in good condition.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Small incisions and punctures into imperforate hymens without immediate definitive management should be avoided because inoculation of the newly introduced bacteria can ascend the gynecologic tract and lead to serious infections.

Early detection of imperforate hymen prevents morbidity from delays in diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

Although it is detectable at all ages through inspection of the external genitalia, imperforate hymen (IH) is a diagnosis that is missed commonly. We hypothesized that children with late diagnoses (predefined as > or =8 years of age, chosen to reflect the timing of normal menarche) would be more likely to be symptomatic, undergo more diagnostic testing, and lack appropriate documentation in their medical records, compared with children with earlier diagnoses (ie, <8 years of age).

METHODS

All patients with IH were identified through searches of 3 hospital databases with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. The medical records of eligible subjects were reviewed by a single, blinded researcher. Comparisons were made between children diagnosed at younger versus older ages.

RESULTS

A bimodal distribution of age at diagnosis was demonstrated; 43% (n = 10) of girls were diagnosed at <8 years of age, and 57% (n = 13) were diagnosed at > or =8 years of age. Among older girls, 100% were symptomatic (abdominal pain and/or urinary symptoms; duration of symptoms: 1-120 days), whereas 90% of cases in the younger group were detected incidentally. Documentation was lacking for breast development (77%), pubic hair development (69%), and menstrual history (46%) among the older girls. Older children were more likely to present symptomatically (odds ratio: 42.0; 95% confidence interval: 3.1-1965.7) and to undergo ancillary testing (odds ratio: 20.3; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-983.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Two distinct populations of girls with IH exist, ie, those diagnosed without symptoms at a young age and those not diagnosed until >8 years of age. By incorporating an examination of the external genitalia into their routine practice, clinicians caring for children can prevent the significant delays in diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and morbidity associated with the latter group.