Laparoscopically assisted sigmoid colon vaginoplasty in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Kuster–Hauser syndrome: feasibility and short‐term results

• Published in: BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 114; no. 12; pp. 1486 - 1492
• Main Authors: Cai, B, Zhang, JR, Xi, XW, Yan, Q, Wan, XP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2007; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Anastomosis, Surgical; Anatomy & physiology; Clinical outcomes; Colon, Sigmoid - transplantation; Feasibility Studies; Female; Gynecology; Humans; Laparoscopy; Laparoscopy - methods; Length of Stay; Medical disorders; neovagina; Postoperative Care - methods; Prospective Studies; Reproductive system; Retrospective Studies; Rokitansky’s syndrome; sigmoid transplant; Surgery; Surgically-Created Structures; Syndrome; Treatment Outcome; Uterus - abnormalities; Uterus - surgery; Vagina - abnormalities; Vagina - surgery; vaginal agenesis; Women
• ISSN: 1470-0328; 1471-0528
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2007.01514.x

Objectives  To evaluate the technical feasibility and anatomical and functional outcomes of laparoscopically assisted sigmoid colon vaginoplasty (LASV) in women with Mayer–Rokitansky–Kuster–Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. Design  A retrospective review of prospectively collected data. Setting  Shanghai First People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Population  Twenty‐six women with MRKH syndrome. Methods  A record was made of mean operating time, length of hospital stay, perioperative complications and the anatomical and functional outcomes of surgery. Main outcome measures  The perioperative results, complications and anatomical and functional outcomes of LASV (with median 20 months follow up, range 5–48 months). Results  The mean operating time and hospital stay were 238 minutes and 9.8 days, respectively. The mean fall in haemoglobin was 2.0 g/dl. The only significant perioperative complications were one case with blood transfusion and three cases with infection (one with urinary tract and two with adjunctive incision). A functioning vagina 10 to 15 cm in length and 4 cm in width was created in all women. Introital stenosis occurred in only two women (2 months later). Twenty‐two women subsequently had intercourse and 20 women (91%) were satisfied with the surgery and subsequent sexual activity. Conclusions  LASV is an effective approach for women with MRKH syndrome. Both the anatomical and functional outcomes are satisfactory.