Giovanni Pecorella

and 5 more

Background: Bartholin’s gland abscesses are common among reproductive-age women and are managed through various surgical interventions, including marsupialisation, Word catheter placement, and incision and drainage (I&D). However, the optimal treatment remains undefined due to a lack of consensus and comparative efficacy data. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of marsupialisation, Word catheter placement, and I&D for managing Bartholin’s gland abscesses, focusing on recurrence rates, healing times, complications, and patient satisfaction. Search Strategy: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Databases searched included PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to May 2024. Keywords such as “Bartholin’s gland abscess” and “surgical management” were used. Selection Criteria: Studies were included if they reported recurrence rates, healing times, complications, and/or patient satisfaction after surgical management of Bartholin’s gland abscesses. Exclusions included non-English studies, case reports, reviews, and studies with incomplete data. Data Collection and Analysis: Ten studies involving 634 patients were analyzed. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, with heterogeneity assessed using I 2 statistics. Main Results: Marsupialisation exhibited the lowest recurrence rate (8.3%) and highest satisfaction score (VAS 4/5) compared to Word catheter placement (18.8%, VAS 3/5) and I&D (34.5%, VAS 2/5). Marsupialisation also resulted in faster healing times (4.3 ± 1.1 weeks). Conclusions: Marsupialisation is the most effective treatment, offering superior outcomes for recurrence, satisfaction, and healing time. Future research should focus on standardising protocols and long-term outcome evaluations.