Congenital absence of the vagina; surgical correction

In the two cases of congenital absence of the vagina reported herein, the embryologic point of arrest of development of the mullerian ducts was identical. Both patients had a rudimentary uterus, and one had a fibroid tumor on the rudimentary uterus. As a part of operation to construct a vagina in such cases, exploratory pelvic laparotomy appears to be a desirable step in order to determine the status of the internal genital organs. The use of a split thickness skin graft sewn around a vaginal mold and inserted into the dissected vaginal space results in more rapid healing, less scar tissue and a vagina that is soft, pliable and normal in appearance, even to the extent of having rugal folds.