title: Experience with neovaginal construction using the full-thickness skin graft in vaginal agenesis.
abstract: The correction of vaginal agenesis requires the creation of a neovaginal cavity that is dissected between the bladder and the rectum. To protect the length of the cavity, it is necessary to ensure the complete epithelialization of the apex of the neovaginal cavity. The author prefers to tailor 2 pieces of full-thickness skin grafts longitudinally on a vaginal stent that is molded into bullet shape. Six girls with vaginal agenesis underwent neovaginal construction using this method. The apex of the neovaginal cavity was perfectly epithelialized using this vaginal stent. The length of the neovaginal cavity that is dissected during the operation was protected. The follow-up period ranged from 24 to 93 months (median, 57.2 months). Postoperative stricture or contracture of the neovagina did not occur in all patients. As a result, full-thickness skin graft is an efficient method for vaginal construction in patients with vaginal agenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Medical Faculty of Uludağ University, Bursa, Turkey. sakin@uludag.edu.tr
authors.forename: Selçuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*