A comparison of the sedimentation and ruge virulence tests in 150 gynecologic cases

Abstract

The standard method of determining the indications and conditions for operation in pelvic inflammatory disease is an history of continued invalidism; a normal leucocyte count and a normal temperature. If an exacerbation of the infection has occurred then a period of at least ten days of normal temperature has to be observed before the chronic inflammatory pelvic lesions are to be attacked surgically.In late years two laboratory tests have been advocated; namely, the erythrocyte sedimentation test and the virulence test of the cervical secretion. A sedimentation time of less than sixty minutes signifies that the patient cannot be safely subjected to a gynecologic pelvic operation as it indicates the presence of an actively acute infection somewhere in the body. A positive virulence test on the other hand means the existence of pathogenic bacteria of some kind in the genital tract contraindicating operations on the pelvic organs due to the danger of postoperative infections and sepsis.The purpose of these investigations is to record our observations made in 150 patients of which 132 were subjected to gynecologic operations and in which the safe time of operation was determined by the standard method of the leucocyte count, temperature, history and physical examination. In all these patients the erythrocyte sedimentation time and the virulence tests were done. Thus a comparison could be made between the prognostic efficacy of the older method and the erythrocyte sedimentation time and the cervical virulence test.