Pyocolpos

PYOCOLPOS (from Greek pyon- pus, colpos- vagina), accumulation of pus in the vagina (a retention tumor containing pus). The etiological factor is atresia of the vagina on the basis of inflammations, injuries, shrinkage, etc. Pyocolpos can form simultaneously with pyometra if the disease is based on haematometra and haematocolpos. The formation of pus depends on either primary infection or secondary infection that has penetrated hematogenically or lymphogenically. Sometimes pyocolpos develops from hydro- or mucocolpos (a retention tumor of the vagina containing watery or mucous fluid). Sometimes the contents of pyocolpos have only a pus-like appearance but are not actually pus. (Schreder described a case of a retention tumor of the vagina in a 13-year-old girl. The tumor contained about 2 liters of pus-like fluid, which consisted of vaginal epithelial cells and a 2% solution of dextrose formed from glycogen contained in the vaginal epithelium.) - The diagnosis of pyocolpos is based on the presence of vaginal atresia and a tumor of cystic consistency above the atretic area; the presence of virulent bacteria in the pus gives the usual symptoms for the latter. Among the rare forms of pyocolpos is pyoelytrometer lateralis, which forms as a result of suppuration in the cavity of haematoelytrometer lateralis; infection usually penetrates through an opening formed by the spontaneous rupture of a blind vaginal pouch corresponding to one half of a double uterus. The treatment of pyocolpos consists of opening the pus cavity and subsequent repeated washings with disinfectant solutions.