Obstetric balloon for treatment of foreshortened vagina using the McIndoe technique.

Abstract

When conservative options such as the use of vaginal dilators fail, the McIndoe technique may be used in the surgical treatment of a foreshortened vagina. The McIndoe procedure, an approach commonly used for the treatment of vaginal agenesis, requires a mold over which a skin graft is sutured and placed inside the vagina. In most surgical descriptions, this mold is made from non-sterile foam, condoms, or gloves. Because makeshift molds can no longer be used in operating rooms owing to strict regulations, alternative methods must be employed. The obstetric balloon is a good choice for use as a soft and adjustable vaginal mold for a modified McIndoe procedure because it is readily available as an approved device in hospitals that provide obstetric services. This technique was successfully employed in a 54-year-old woman to treat foreshortened vagina. An obstetric balloon can be used effectively as a mold for vaginal reconstruction with the McIndoe technique.