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

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. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010; 94: 2316-8. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)