title: The use of acellular dermal allograft for vulvovaginal reconstruction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many different techniques that require the surgeon to harvest autologous tissue to create a neovagina have been described in the literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a technique for creating a neovagina with the use of an acellular dermal allograft as a replacement for split-thickness skin graft. Three patients are presented who had a successful creation of a neovagina with this technique. The indications for vaginoplasty include vaginal agglutination from lichen planus, squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina, and vaginal agenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The creation of a neovagina using an acellular dermal allograft can be successfully accomplished in patients undergoing constructive and exenterative procedures. The use of an acellular dermal allograft decreases operative time and decreases the incidence of postoperative morbidity because harvesting autologous tissue for the neovagina is not required.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307, USA. michael.stany@amedd.army.mil
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Stany
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sunde
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bidus
authors.forename: G Scott
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Elkas
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery; D014844:Vulva / Q000601:surgery; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology