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

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.