What is a vaginal cuff

A vaginal cuff is a closure made at the top of the vagina, near where the cervix is usually located. A surgeon creates a vaginal cuff by stitching together the top part of the vagina, usually as part of a total or radical hysterectomy. Doctors recommend hysterectomies for women who would benefit from the surgical removal of the uterus. The cervix is the lowest part of the uterus where it meets the vagina.

Study record managers: refer to the Data Element Definitions if submitting registration or results information. Operative site infection remains the most common complication after performing a gynecological procedure, and has a great implication in the morbidity and mortality of patients. Gynecological procedures, including laparoscopic hysterectomy, represent a unique challenge due to the amount of microorganisms found at the skin level of the vagina or the endocervix. However, there is no clear evidence that the complication decreases with the use of postoperative antibiotics. With the completion of this study, a multicentre triple-blind controlled randomized controlled trial is intended to determine the behavior of the application of this intervention.

Vaginal cuff dehiscence, or separation of the vaginal incision, is a rare postoperative complication unique to hysterectomy. Morbidity related to evisceration of abdominal contents can be profound and prompt intervention is required. A year observational study of 11, patients described a 0.

If you have a total or radical hysterectomy , your cervix and uterus will be removed. More extensive than a total hysterectomy, a radical hysterectomy also involves removal of the upper part of the vagina and additional tissue adjacent to the uterus. The top part of your vagina — where your upper vagina or cervix used to be — will be sewn together as part of this procedure. This is called closing the vaginal cuff. Keep reading to learn what you can expect after a vaginal cuff procedure, tips for recovery, symptoms to watch for, and more.