title: [Vaginal reconstruction with an upper abdominal island flap].
abstract: This paper presents a method for vaginal reconstruction. On the basis of anatomic studies, we designed an island flap obtained from the upper abdomen, with the blood supply from the deep inferior epigastric artery. At the time of operation, this flap was transferred under the symphysis pubis to the artificial space created between the urinary bladder and rectum. The operation was done on 7 patients and complete survival of the flap was seen in 6 cases. The failure was due to a twist of the flap vessel pedicle. The patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years, and it was found that the vaginal wall was not only pliable but elastic, and the married patients enjoyed a satisfactory sexual life.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Anhui.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Xiong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*