A modified technique to create a neovagina with an isolated segment of sigmoid colon

The creation of a functional vagina in patients with congenital vaginal aplasia or male transsexualism is a challenging problem. A group of 40 patients, including 23 male transsexuals, in whom a neovagina was created using a sigmoid transplant, is reported. The technique, a modification of Kun's "colocolpopoiesis," is described in detail. Ten patients showed some direct postoperative complications and five were readmitted the first six weeks postoperatively for a variety of reasons. No extensive complication occurred. Thirty-two patients were evaluated at the routine six week postoperative check-up. Four patients had had intercourse at that time and an adequate vagina was found in 21 other patients. It is concluded that this modification of Kun's technique, known as colocolponeopoiesis, has had, at short term in the majority of patients, functionally good results and an acceptable complication rate.