J Korean Soc Plast Reconstr Surg.  2010 Nov;37(6):831-834.

Reconstruction of Congenital Absence of Vagina using Vulvoperineal Fasciocutaneous Flap: A Case Report

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hong Ik Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Seoul, Korea. kchann@hanmail.net

Abstract

PURPOSE
Congenital absence of the vagina is a rare case. It occurs as a result of Mullerian duct aplasia or complete androgen insensitivity syndrome. The reconstructive modality includes skin graft, use of intestine and various methods of flap. We report a patient who underwent vulvoperineal fasciocutaneous flap to reconstruct congenital absence of the vagina, while the external genitalia and ovaries are normal.
METHODS
A 26-year-old woman presented with vaginal agenesis. Under general anesthesia, a U-shaped incision was made between the urethral meatus and the anus. The new vaginal pocket was created up to the level of the peritoneal reflection between the urinary structures and the rectum. Next, the vulvoperineal fasciocutaneous flaps were designed in a rectangular fashion. Flap elevation was begun at the lateral margin which the adductor longus fascia was incised and elevated, and the superficial perineal neurovascular pedicle was invested by the fascial layer. The medial border was then elevated. A subcutaneous tunnel was created beneath the inferior of the labia to rotate the flaps. The left vulvoperineal flap was rotated counterclockwise and the right was rotated clockwise. The neovaginal pouch was formed by approximating the medial and lateral borders. The tubed neovagina was then transposed into the cavity.
RESULTS
In 3 weeks, the vaginal canal remained supple After 6 weeks, the physical examination showed normal-appearing labia majora and perineum with an adequate vaginal depth. A year after the operation, the patient had a 7 cm vagina of sufficient width with no evidence of contractures nor fibrous scar formation. The patient was sexually active without difficulty.
CONCLUSION
Although many methods were described for reconstruction of vaginal absence, there is not a method yet to be approved as a perfect solution. We used the vulvoperineal fasciocutaneous flap to reconstruct a neovagina. This method had a following merits: a single-stage procedure, excellent flap reliability, the potential for normal function, minimal donor site morbidity and no need for subsequent dilatation, stents, or obturators. We thought that this operation has a good anatomic and functional results for reconstruction of the vagina.

Keyword

Vaginal agenesis; Vulvoperineal fasciocutaneous flap

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anal Canal
Androgen-Insensitivity Syndrome
Anesthesia, General
Cicatrix
Congenital Abnormalities
Contracture
Dilatation
Fascia
Female
Genitalia
Humans
Intestines
Male
Ovary
Perineum
Physical Examination
Polyenes
Rectum
Skin
Stents
Tissue Donors
Transplants
Vagina
Congenital Abnormalities
Polyenes
Vagina
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