Introduction and hypothesis: Vaginal packing is sometimes placed during pelvic floor reconstructive surgery to aid with hemostasis. Historically, these patients were admitted overnight. In the interest of moving patients safely and efficiently through the discharge process select patients are discharged home with vaginal packing. The objective of this study is to assess healthcare utilization and safety among patients discharged with packing.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients undergoing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) surgery by a single surgeon between 2016 and 2023. Patients were identified before and after the 2020 COVID pandemic as this marked a transition point where same day discharge became heavily emphasized. The historic cohort (group 1) represents patients admitted overnight with vaginal packing compared to those discharged home same day to remove their own packing (group 2). Healthcare utilization and complications were recorded in the first 30 days postoperatively.

Results: Thirty-eight patients were identified in group 1 and 39 in group 2. Age, BMI, and estimated blood loss was similar. There were 20 total unplanned encounters with 10 in each group (p = 0.95). Unplanned encounters in group 1 were seven phone calls/messages, one office visit, and two ED visits compared to three phone calls/messages, five office visits, and two ED visits in group 2. Overall complication rate was similar with six in group 1 and seven in group 2 (p = 0.80). There were zero cases of retained packing.

Conclusion: Patients may safely be discharged home with vaginal packing in place with similar rate of complications and healthcare utilization when compared to hospital admission.

Keywords: Healthcare economics; Healthcare utilization; Pelvic organ prolapse; Vaginal packing.

© 2025. The Author(s).

引言和假设： 阴道填塞有时在盆底重建手术中使用，以帮助止血。历史上，这些患者会被留院观察一夜。出于安全有效地将患者从出院流程中释放的目的，选择部分患者在带阴道填塞的情况下回家自行取出填塞物。本研究的目的是评估带填塞物出院患者的医疗资源利用和安全性。

方法： 回顾性分析2016年至2023年间由单一外科医生进行的盆腔器官脱垂（POP）手术患者资料。这些患者被分为新冠肺炎疫情前后的两组，因为2020年新冠肺炎大流行标志着出院当天离院成为重点关注的对象之一。历史对照组（组1）代表留院过夜并带有阴道填塞物的患者，与那些在同一天出院自行取出填塞物的患者（组2）进行比较。记录了术后30天内的医疗资源利用和并发症情况。

结果： 组1中有38名患者，组2中则有39名患者。年龄、BMI和估计失血量相似。共有20次未计划的就诊事件，每组各10次（P = 0.95）。组1中的未计划就诊包括7个电话/信息交流、1次门诊就诊以及2次急诊访问；而组2中则为3个电话/信息交流、5次门诊就诊和2次急诊访问。总体并发症率相似，组1中有6例，组2有7例（P = 0.80）。没有出现任何填塞物滞留的案例。

结论： 与住院相比，在带阴道填塞的情况下出院时，并发症和医疗资源利用情况相似。因此患者可以安全地在带有阴道填塞物的情况下出院回家。

关键词： 医疗服务经济学；医疗资源利用；盆腔器官脱垂；阴道填塞。