Doctor has warning after woman suffers ‘catastrophic’ genital injury on rope swing
A women's health expert has issued a 'red flag' warning after one US woman experienced a 'catastrophic' injury to her genitals.
A dream cruise turned into a nightmare for Kirsten Lindsey after a rope swing excursion in Honduras ended in a devastating accident that has left her facing around $50,000 in medical bills.
Lindsey, from Shreveport, Louisiana, was on her first cruise with boyfriend Blake Ford when the incident happened on day three of their trip.
As she jumped from the platform, Blake claims a retrieval line that appeared to have been improperly connected suddenly tightened beneath her.
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"The line suddenly tightened between Kirsten’s legs just before she dropped," Blake recalled.
At first, the couple thought it was nothing serious, with Blake saying 'she even walked back to our transportation trying to laugh through the pain'.
Footage of the incident captured the moment a bystander shouted: "Oh my God... the rope is up between her legs!" Before another person asked if Lindsey was OK.
Within hours, things took a frightening turn.
Blake said the injury became so severe that the swelling reached the size of a baseball, before Kirsten was rushed to the ship’s medical centre after he called 911.
According to KTAL News, she spent around 26 hours receiving treatment onboard, with the couple paying $3,500 (£2,600) before additional medical costs.
They were then given three options: stay on the ship for the remainder of the cruise, transfer to a hospital in Cozumel and arrange their own journey home, or pay for an emergency air evacuation to the US.
They chose the air evacuation, paying a $20,000 (£15,000) deposit before a further $30,000 (£22,400) on arrival in Florida.
Dr Ravina Bhanot, NHS GP, women's health specialist and founder of The One, has since exclusively explained to Tyla the issues to be aware of when it comes to vulvar trauma.
"This appears to be a vulva haematoma from a straddle-type injury," she said.
"This can be a gynaecological emergency. It results in rapid swelling and severe pain and needs same-day assessment."
The expert noted that the vulva has a rich blood supply from the pudendal artery, which sits close to the pubic bone.
"Blunt impact - a rope or bar can crush these vessels," she continued. "As the vulval tissue is soft, blood can collect here fast as it is crushed against the pubic bone and cause a vulval haematoma."
'Red flag' symptoms
According to the doctor, 'red flag' signs include disproportionate pain, fast-growing swelling, skin tightness/discolouration, difficulty passing urine or signs of blood loss (dizziness, racing heart).
"It can lead to needing surgery to remove the expanding haematoma if more than 19cm and pressure is causing tissue damage or necrosis," Dr Bhanot added.
"However, most settle without this and will reduce in size over time."
Long-term risks include scarring, change in sensation and painful sex.
"If this happens, ice, pain relief and first aid are required. It usually needs a medical review," she concluded.
On the couple’s GoFundMe page, Blake wrote: "Her pain became so severe that she could barely move, and at one point the medical staff told me they were trying to keep her awake because she would stop breathing whenever she drifted off from the pain medication."
He added: "After hours of delays, she was finally transported by ambulance through severe weather to the airport, where a private medical jet flew us to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are now away from home while she undergoes testing, treatment, and recovery."
Blake also revealed the financial impact has continued to grow, writing: "Between emergency transportation, medical expenses, travel, lodging, lost income, and the unexpected costs of getting ourselves and our vehicle back home, the expenses continue to grow."
Kirsten has since undergone two surgeries, while the fundraiser has raised more than $17,000 towards the couple’s mounting expenses.
Topics: Health, Real Life, Tyla Exclusive, Women's Health
Rhiannon Ingle