Vaginal construction in children.

PURPOSE: We evaluated outcomes in 20 patients 1 to 21 years old who underwent vaginal construction between 1980 and 1996.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 21 vaginal constructions was performed in 20 children using ileum in 13, sigmoid colon in 6, bladder mucosa from a diverticulum in 1 and scrotal skin in 1. The diagnoses included the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome in 6 cases, micropenis in 5, cloacal exstrophy in 3, penile agenesis in 3, and testicular feminization, classic bladder exstrophy and true hermaphroditism in 1 each.

RESULTS: Patients treated with intestinal vaginoplasty had excellent cosmetic results without excessive mucous production or the need for routine dilation. The bladder mucosa vagina achieved good results with periodic dilation. Loss of depth developed in the scrotal skin vagina and it was converted to an ileal vagina. Stenosis at the mucocutaneous junction in 1 patient with a sigmoid and 1 with an ileal vagina was treated with Y-V plasty.

CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal construction may be performed using isolated bowel segments with excellent results and minimal morbidity. We have found ileum to be the segment of choice in younger patients, while sigmoid colon is preferred for vaginal construction in adolescents. Vaginal construction with isolated bowel segments provides a cosmetic, self-lubricating neovagina with low rates of failure and revision, and without the need for routine dilation.