Postoperative Course and Complications after Pull-through Vaginoplasty for Distal Vaginal Atresia

Abstract

Study objective: To report the usual postoperative course and complications after pull-through vaginoplasty for isolated distal vaginal atresia.

Design, setting, and participants: Retrospective chart review at Texas Children's Hospital of all patients who were diagnosed with isolated distal vaginal atresia and underwent pull-through vaginoplasty during the study time frame.

Interventions: None.

Main outcome measures: Postoperative complications such as vaginal stenosis or infection and postoperative vaginal diameter.

Results: Sixteen patients were identified and charts were reviewed. Patients were initially evaluated by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and found to have distended hematometrocolpos with distal vaginal atresia. All patients underwent pull-through vaginoplasty with similar operative techniques. The average distance from the perineum to the level of the obstruction was 1.84 ± 1.2 cm. Two patients, both with obstructions at greater than 3 cm, experienced stricture formation postoperatively. Four patients (25%) experienced postoperative vaginitis. One patient (6.25%) experienced a postoperative urinary tract infection. Two groups (3 cm or less versus greater than 3 cm) were compared, and the presence of stricture was statistically different based on mean centimeters from perineum prior to pull-through vaginoplasty (P = .038).

Conclusions: Distal vaginal atresia is managed with pull-through vaginoplasty. Atresias that extend greater than 3 cm from the perineum are at increased risk for vaginal stricture formation and should be followed to monitor for their formation. Other complications are infrequent and minor.

Keywords: Distal vaginal atresia; Hematocolpos; Hematometrocolpos; Vaginal stricture; Vaginoplasty.