Secondary vaginal atresia following caesarean section: an unreported entity

Postpartum genital tract adhesions are infrequent and exact incidence is not reported. Severe dystocia, obstructed labour and frequent pelvic examinations have been proposed as possible causes of vaginal adhesion following vaginal delivery. Atresia/adhesions of vagina following caesarean section is very rare. Here, we report a rare case of 21-year-old P1L1 woman presenting with secondary amenorrhoea associated with cyclical abdominal pain following caesarean section. Per speculum examination showed a blind vagina with no communication with the upper one-third. We created a neovagina after adhesiolysis. We hope to increase the awareness of the obstetricians around the globe about postpartum genital tract adhesion, which may even occur as a rare secondary complication of caesarean section. We also wish to bring to the light of obstetricians that numerous pelvic examinations or difficult vaginal delivery may lead to genital tract trauma, and thus, must be minimised in an attempt to prevent postpartum genital tract adhesions.

Laparoscopically assisted uterovaginal canalization and vaginoplasty for patients with congenital cervical and vaginal atresia: a step-by-step guide and long-term outcomes

Objective: To study the long-term outcomes of laparoscopically assisted uterovaginal canalization and vaginoplasty in patients with congenital cervical and vaginal atresia and to introduce the surgery step-by-step.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted including 10 patients diagnosed with congenital cervical and vaginal atresia underwent laparoscopically assisted cervicovaginal canalization between January 2016 and Jun 2020 in a tertiary teaching hospital. Clinical characteristics and perioperative data were recorded. Patients were followed up in outpatient clinic at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, and once a year thereafter. Menstruation cycles and degree of dysmenorrhea were recorded. Gynecological examination was performed to measure vaginal length and to examine whether there was restenosis.Results: All procedures went smoothly, with no case requiring conversion to laparotomy or no intraoperative complications occurred. Postoperative febrile morbidity occurred in one patient (1/10, 10%). The median (quartile) follow-up time was 26.0 (21.3, 48.3) months. All patients resumed menstruation, including nine patients (9/10, 90%) with regular monthly menstruation. Eight patients (8/10, 80%) experienced mild-to-moderate dysmenorrhea; the remaining 2 patients (2/10, 20%) had no dysmenorrhea. Cervical restenosis occurred in one patient (1/10,10%) 12 months postoperatively, and cervical dilation was performed. So far, eight months after the second surgery, no restenosis has been found. The mean postoperative vaginal length was 7.9 ± 1.3 cm by the time of last follow up. Only one patient prepared for pregnancy for two years, but she had not conceived yet.Conclusion: Laparoscopically assisted uterovaginal canalization and vaginoplasty is an easy, safe and promising management option for correcting congenital cervical and vaginal atresia.