Combined Laparoscopic and Vaginal Cervicovaginal Reconstruction Using Acellular Porcine Small Intestinal Submucosa Graft in a Patient with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (U5aC4V4).

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To introduce a creation that combines laparoscopic and Wharton-Sheares-George cervicovaginal reconstruction using a small intestinal submucosa (SIS) graft in a patient with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome who had a rudimentary cavity (U5aC4V4) [1].

DESIGN: A video article introducing a new surgical technique.

SETTING: A university hospital.

PATIENTS: A 24-year-old patient had primary amenorrhea and irregular lower abdominal pain for 9 years. The patient was Tanner stage 3 for pubic hair and Tanner stage 4 for breast development. The physical examination revealed no vagina. A primordial uterus and a uterus with a rudimentary cavity were detected by magnetic resonance imaging [2,3]. However, the rudimentary cavity had no hematometra. Magnetic resonance imaging also found a left solitary kidney. The diagnosis was MRKH syndrome with a rudimentary cavity (U5aC4V4) [4]. The patient desired resumption of menses and possible future fertility.

INTERVENTIONS: Combined laparoscopic and Wharton-Sheares-George cervicovaginal reconstruction using an SIS graft was performed.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: With the Wharton-Sheares-George neovaginoplasty, a vaginal mold with a surrounding SIS graft was inserted into the newly created cavity [5]. Using laparoscopy, the lower uterine segment was incised by shape dissection. The proximal segment of the SIS graft to the lower uterine segment was sutured. A T-shaped intrauterine device with a Foley catheter was fixed in the uterine cavity by the delay of absorbed sutures to prevent cervical or vaginal stenosis. The distal segment of the SIS graft was sutured with the high vaginal or vestibular mucosa vaginally. The operation was successfully completed. The operating time was 2 hours. Hospitalization was 4 days. There were no blood transfusions or complications. The patient had resumption of menses for 2 cycles postoperatively, and she had no dysmenorrhea. The patient did not have sexual intercourse because of the mode in the vagina to prevent vagina stenosis. No cervical stenosis occurred because of the Foley catheter.

CONCLUSION: In the past, a uterus with a rudimentary cavity in patients with MRKH was always excised, and patients lost the chance of menstrual onset and fertility. Combined laparoscopic and Wharton-Sheares-George cervicovaginal reconstruction using an SIS graft provided a minimally invasive, safe, and effective surgical option for the young patient with MRKH syndrome with a rudimentary cavity. The technique is not complex, is easy to learn and perform, and provided a result with functional and anatomic satisfaction. No special surgical apparatus is needed with this technique.