Objectives: To evaluate the technical feasibility and anatomical and functional outcomes of laparoscopically assisted sigmoid colon vaginoplasty (LASV) in women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.
Design: A retrospective review of prospectively collected data.
Setting: Shanghai First People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Population: Twenty-six women with MRKH syndrome.
Methods: A record was made of mean operating time, length of hospital stay, perioperative complications and the anatomical and functional outcomes of surgery.
Main outcome measures: The perioperative results, complications and anatomical and functional outcomes of LASV (with median 20 months follow up, range 5-48 months).
Results: The mean operating time and hospital stay were 238 minutes and 9.8 days, respectively. The mean fall in haemoglobin was 2.0 g/dl. The only significant perioperative complications were one case with blood transfusion and three cases with infection (one with urinary tract and two with adjunctive incision). A functioning vagina 10 to 15 cm in length and 4 cm in width was created in all women. Introital stenosis occurred in only two women (2 months later). Twenty-two women subsequently had intercourse and 20 women (91%) were satisfied with the surgery and subsequent sexual activity.
Conclusions: LASV is an effective approach for women with MRKH syndrome. Both the anatomical and functional outcomes are satisfactory.