The Peritoneal Neovagina after Davydov's Laparoscopic Procedure in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome: Morphology and Ultrastructure Investigation of the New Epithelium

Abstract

To investigate the clinical appearance and morphologic and ultrastructural aspects of the mucosa of the peritoneal neovagina after laparoscopic Davydov neovaginoplasty in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-K€ uster-Hauser syndrome. Design: The study group was a prospective, observational, experimental cohort of cases treated in the same institution between 2015 and 2019. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and then every 12 months. Setting: Single-center academic institution and teaching hospital in Milan, Italy.Patients: Fifty-one consecutive subjects with clinical and imaging diagnosis of Mayer-Rokitansky-K€ uster-Hauser syndrome surgically treated by the same team and postoperatively followed. Interventions: All the subjects underwent the same standardized surgical procedure and thereafter were followed up at 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery and then every 12 months; a minimum follow-up of 12 months was achieved in all cases. Vaginoscopy and Schiller test were performed at each follow-up visit, and a biopsy specimen of the neovagina was obtained in a limited number of patients (6 out of 51) for light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the tissue. Measurements and Main Results: In vaginoscopy, the neovaginal mucosa appeared homogeneous, smooth, and pink all along the neovaginal tract; the Schiller test detected iodine positivity at different degrees of extension upward from the hymenal ring, starting at 3 months postoperatively with almost complete positivity between 6 to 12 months in all cases. LM demonstrated adequate thickness and differentiation of the new mucosa along with the presence of glycogen storage; SEM revealed an ultrastructural surface appearance very close to normality. The main difference compared with a normal vagina was the reduced presence of vaginal mucosal folds. Conclusion: Under different techniques (vaginoscopy, Schiller test, LM, and SEM), a minimum of 6 months after surgery, the peritoneal neovagina epithelium showed aspects comparable to the natal mucosa of the vagina.

Treatment of Urethral Intercourse and Impact on Female Sexual Function

“… 10 In last decades, peritoneal pull-through vaginoplasty presents reasonable solution. 11 However, additional lubrication and periodic dilations are mandatory for patent neovaginal channel maintenance. Because of our personal experience in neovaginal reconstruction of over two decades, all of our cases with vaginal agenesis underwent sigmoid vaginoplasty.…”

Tissue Options for Construction of the Neovaginal Canal in Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty

“…The peritoneum-lined canal in cisgender patients with vaginal agenesis has been shown to undergo metaplastic changes to squamous epithelialization at about six months to one year postoperatively [2,34]. Although the lining can grossly appear similar to natal vaginal mucosa, the characteristic rugae formed by natal submucosal smooth muscle fibers are absent [35]. No similar histologic studies have been performed in transgender patients following peritoneum-based vaginoplasty techniques to confirm whether a similar process of metaplasia is seen.…”