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1: Age Ageing. 2004 Sep;33(5):510-1. Epub 2004 Jul 22.Click here to read Links

Lesson of the week: perils of pessaries.

Wheeler LD, Lazarus R, Torkington J, O'Mahony MS, Woodhouse KW.

Department of Geriatric Medicine, Llandough Hospital, Penarth CF64 2XX, UK.

Vaginal pessaries are widely considered to be a safe alternative to surgery in older women. We report a case of near fatal septicaemia in a 75-year-old woman associated with a shelf pessary, the presence of which was identified during an exploratory laparotomy. This case highlights the importance of the gynaecological history and examination when assessing older women with septicaemia of unknown source.

PMID: 15271640 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]