title: Management of transverse vaginal septum using the Olbert balloon catheter to mobilize the proximal vaginal mucosa and facilitate low anastomosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To mobilize and make available for anastomosis the maximal amount of mucosa from the expanded upper vaginal tissue and avoid postoperative narrowing of the vagina.
  
  
  METHODS
  Technique paper.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with a hematocolpos due to transverse vaginal septum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pull through of proximal distended vagina using an Olbert balloon catheter.
  
  
  METHODS
  To avoid midvaginal narrowing due to retraction of the suture line in the surgical management of transverse vaginal septum with hematocolpos.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High-pressure balloon expansion of the proximal hematocolpos optimizes the vaginal mucosa available for final anastomosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a high-pressure dilatation balloon permits high intraballoon pressures that facilitate the surgical management of transverse vaginal septum and limit postoperative narrowing of the vagina.
authors.affiliation: Section of Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, and Genetics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912-3360, USA. llayman@mcg.edu
authors.forename: Lawrence C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Layman
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: McDonough
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006399:Hematocolpos / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*