Combined vaginal and laparoscopic approach for the creation of neovagina in a patient affected by Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: an innovative surgical treatment.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the step-by-step simultaneous vaginal and laparoscopic approach for the creation and reconstruction of a neovagina using a skin graft, in a woman affected by Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome [1]. To date, no data are available in the literature comparing our technique with other validated approaches such as McIndoe and Davydov, as our process is a newly developed one.

Setting: Tertiary-referral center PARTICIPANT: An eighteen-year-old woman affected by type 1 MRKH syndrome previously treated with vaginal dilators without success came to our attention because of her desire to treat her vaginal agenesis. The patient referred primary amenorrhea and appeared with normal secondary sexual characteristics. Blind vaginal pouch was confirmed via imaging [2]. After having an accurate counselling with the patient, using drawings on the tight, informing her about the postoperative course and showing aesthetic outcomes, an innovative surgery, resulting from a combination of vaginal and laparoscopic approach, was proposed.

Intervention: The surgical procedure consisted of two phases. The vaginal step involved the creation of the lower part of the neovagina using the Fortunoff technique, while the laparoscopic step enabled the creation of the upper part under direct visual control. The neovagina was reconstructed using a skin graft, harvested from the patient's thigh. The combination of techniques enabled the development of a functional vaginal canal with excellent anatomical and clinical outcomes. At three-month follow-up, the neovagina appeared fully epithelialized, with a total length of 8 cm and satisfactory anatomical and functional results [3-5].

Conclusions: In conclusion, this is the first reported case of a technique combining a vaginal approach for creating the lower canal of the neovagina with a laparoscopic approach for the upper part. We are committed to increasing our case series so that our surgical approach may be considered a viable option to offer to surgeons in the future.