[Asteroid plastic surgery as optimum management of complete and partial vaginal occlusion (author's transl)]

Opinions differ about the type of surgical procedure to be applied in cases of complete or partial vaginal occlusion. The large percentage of postoperative vaginal stenoses and functional disorders necessitated a search for a new technique. The mucous membrane of the introitus vaginae is incised in the shape of a lying cross and the four flaps thus made are detached. Then an exactly lateral incision is made on each side of the crossing point described above resulting in a broad access to the vagina. Once the opening is wide enough, a second group of triangular flaps is formed vertically to this horizontal incision; the dimensions of the triangular flaps in the inner and outer group must be identical. Then the outer four flaps are turned inward and the four inner flaps are turned outward and interlinked so that a zig-zag line is formed which encircles the vagina in the area of the former stenosis. Thus far this surgical technique has been applied five times and yielded satisfactory results in every instance.