Female urethral reconstruction with amnion grafts.
BACKGROUND
About 1-5% of female babies are born with Müllerian duct abnormalities such as Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome, urogenital sinus, and cloacal malformation. In some intersex cases the urethra and vagina both empty into a urogenital sinus. One major issue in single-stage surgical reconstruction of large urethral defects is tissue availability.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of amnion grafts in female urethral reconstruction.


METHODS
This is a prospective cohort study describing the use of amnion grafts for urethral reconstruction in 8 patients with ambiguous genitalia associated with low or mid-portion urethrovaginal confluence or vaginal agenesis with low external urethral meatus implantation.


RESULTS
The procedure was felt to be easy, quick and effective for appropriate restoration of both the function and the cosmetics of the lower urogenital tract.


CONCLUSIONS
Amnion grafts add a valuable option to the surgical armamentarium and offers potential advantages for urogenital reconstructive surgery.
Brandt
F T
FT
Division of Urogynecology, Universidade Federal de Pernam, Parnamirim-Recife-Pe, CEP, Brazil. fcbrandt@elogica.com.br
Albuquerque
C D
CD
Lorenzato
F R
FR
D000293:Adolescent; D000650:Amnion / Q000637:transplantation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*