A Question about Pessaries

[VickyRN]

I have been lecturing on female reproductive disorders and mentioned the use of a pessary for prolapsed uterus and bladder. One of the students asked--how long should a pessary be left in place before being removed and cleansed??? I have had VERY little experience with these devices and didn't know. (I know in one hospital in which I worked, a patient presented who had left a pessary in place for FIVE YEARS without touching it---YICCHH!!!) Does anybody out there have any experience with pessaries and know the recommended intervals that they are to be removed and cleansed?? (Or any other info about these devices that would be of interest???)

Thank you for your assist. :kiss

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

UUUHHHH,

I've had a dementia pt (or two) admitted to the hospital that no one(including the long term physician) knew that they had they had a pessary in place until it showed up on an x-ray.

Trying to find that nasty little string after seeing it on the xray -icky!!!

PS. How many have dealt with the "country" patients that use potatoes or other root vegetables for pessaries?

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

I would be afraid they would take root up there.

[Vsummer1]

Originally posted by canoehead

I would be afraid they would take root up there.

Heard of that too... a vine growing out the lady parts... EWWW

[jenac]

Potatoes or other root veggies?!!!!! Ugh! You've got to be kidding? Please be kidding.....I've heard of some wild things, but wow.

[Vsummer1]

Originally posted by jenac

Potatoes or other root veggies?!!!!! Ugh! You've got to be kidding? Please be kidding.....I've heard of some wild things, but wow.

Nope. Not kidding.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

Nope not kidding at all.

Also, some individuals have been taught as folklore to insert small root/root vegetables to "draw out" infections/discharges.

This ranks (pun intended) up there with drinking kerosene to rid oneself of worms (honest to god, I've had two of these patients).

I would hate to be there, when they passed gas - hopefully in a non-smoking area.

[Luv cats]

ooooooo....bad memories. I had a Home Health pt once (90+) that had a pessary and we had to remove and clean it 2x week!! I was a blue cube with concave sides and no string anywhere in site! You had to "go after it" and "return it" just the same way and boy can I say something about the "discharge" that you encounter in this process will make your eyes water! That is an all to clear memory......................................

[RN2B2005]

Here's a reference to the "vine in the lady parts"/root vegetables as a pessary rumour. If anyone has actually treated (had DIRECT contact with) a patient who did this, and can provide documentation, please contact the website so they can document it as a verifiable fact, and not an urban legend.

http://www.snopes.com/medical/mishaps/potato.htm

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

A BLUE CUBE!!!!!!

I always thought that they were ovoid/egg shaped????

[dianah, ASN]

On a similar note (that of "home remedies"), had a backwoods-type pt once who described his anticoag therapy (after he'd run out of warfarin and chose not to return to the clinic for refills, blood draws): he put himself on a small dose of rat poison orally, then pricked his finger once a week and timed how long it took him to clot. If it took longer than X amt of time to clot, he'd decrease his dose of rat poison for the week. With a shorter amt of time to clot, he'd increase the dose. Creative, but scary!

Took care of an 80-ish-year-old woman once who'd diagnosed and splinted her own forearm fracture, many years previous.

I've no experience w/pessaries, tho'.

Rock on. -- D

_______________________________

And when I am old, I shall wear purple.

I'm still hot, it just comes in flashes now.

:p

[adrienurse, LPN]

Hey, you're not too far off with the potato and root vegetable thing. These were, apparently what were originally used to treat the problem.