[Acquired caustic vagina stenosis: Surgical outcomes of 21 cases]

To document epidemiology, causes, anatomical varieties and surgical management outcomes of caustic acquired vagina stenosis.

Retrospective study of 21 patients involved from 1996 to 2012 at the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Yopougon's teaching hospital in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Vaginal stenosis due to genital malformation, vaginal irradiation of pelvic tumours, repair of bladder and vaginal fistulae or intersexual disorders were excluded.

The prevalence was 0.14/1000 admissions, mean age was 32.1 years, mean gravidity was 1.76 and mean parity was 1.1. Vaginal stenosis seat and extent were variable and 100 % had a caustic origin by use of traditional medicine vaginal pessaire. Of the patients, 95.2 % underwent surgical treatment followed by several dilations sessions with glass dilators. Successful surgical outcome allowing coitus was achieved in 47.6 % of cases with 52.4 % failure.

Acquired caustic vagina stenosis are frequently occurring and are a public health problem related to ignorance. Health education and establishment of expert centers with exchange of experiences in West Africa should be able to improve surgical outcomes.