Management of transverse vaginal septum using the Olbert balloon catheter to mobilize the proximal vaginal mucosa and facilitate low anastomosis

Abstract

Objective: To mobilize and make available for anastomosis the maximal amount of mucosa from the expanded upper vaginal tissue and avoid postoperative narrowing of the vagina.

Design: Technique paper.

Setting: Tertiary care medical center.

Patient(s): Patients with a hematocolpos due to transverse vaginal septum.

Intervention(s): Pull through of proximal distended vagina using an Olbert balloon catheter.

Main outcome measure(s): To avoid midvaginal narrowing due to retraction of the suture line in the surgical management of transverse vaginal septum with hematocolpos.

Result(s): High-pressure balloon expansion of the proximal hematocolpos optimizes the vaginal mucosa available for final anastomosis.

Conclusion(s): The use of a high-pressure dilatation balloon permits high intraballoon pressures that facilitate the surgical management of transverse vaginal septum and limit postoperative narrowing of the vagina.