title: Use of autologous micromucosa graft for vaginoplasty in vaginal agenesis.
abstract: Despite reports on many different techniques, the ideal method of vaginoplasty has not been firmly established. The purpose of our study was to describe the procedure and outcome of creating neovagina lined with autologous micromucosa. Nine patients with vaginal agenesis were reconstructed by our new technique. The mucosal grafts that harvested from the bilateral cheek were minced into 1 mm2 in size by machine and were transplanted to the cavity, which is dissected between the bladder and the rectum. In all cases, a neovagina was well formed, 8 cm in depth (range, 6-10), and 2 fingers in width. The lining was pink-colored, smooth, and was confirmed as mucosal histologically. The perineal area and donor sites were not disturbed postoperation. Of the 9 patients, 4 were married and sexually active. Three of them were satisfied with their sexual life, whereas the remaining one complained the inadequate depth of the neovagina. We conclude that the use of autologous micromucosa to construct a neovagina appears an easy, effective, and minimally invasive method. It deserves further application.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical School, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Shi Jing Shan District, Beijing, People's Republic of China. zhaomuxin@126.com
authors.forename: Muxin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Pengcheng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Senkai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000568:Amenorrhea / Q000209:etiology; D002610:Cheek / Q000601:surgery; D004106:Dilatation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000637:transplantation*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D015607:Stents; D013577:Syndrome; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult