Adaptation process of the skin graft to vaginal mucosa after McIndoe vaginoplasty

Abstract

There are many methods of treatment of vaginal agenesis. In this study, patients who underwent McIndoe vaginoplasty were evaluated for development of vaginal mucosa. Vaginal pH measurements, smears, and punch biopsies were obtained from seven patients postoperatively at 3, 6, and 12 months after having McIndoe vaginoplasty. Neovaginal smears indicated no specific data for mucosal development at the 3rd and 6th month after the operation. However, Doderlein bacilli were determined at the 12th month. Histopathological examination of punch biopsies revealed dermal and subdermal thickening at the 3rd month, partial adaptation to mucosa at 6th month, and full adaptation to mucosa at 12th month. Also normal vaginal pH levels were recorded at the 12th month. As a result of the adaptation process, the split thickness skin graft acquired both histological and physiological characteristics of normal vaginal mucosa. Also, neovaginal epithelium was evaluated to be macroscopically similar to normal vaginal mucosa, 12 months after the operation.