Different Methods of Customised Vaginal Stent Fabrication in Vaginoplasty: A Comprehensive Review

The non formation of the vagina, known as vaginal agenesis, impacts patients’ psychological health in addition to being a congenital defect. Vaginal agenesis affects one in every 4,000 to 10,000 females. Despite presenting with primary amenorrhoea, patients with vaginal agenesis appear physically normal, with normal height, breast development, body hair and external genitalia. The care of patients with vaginal agenesis involves psychosocial counselling in addition to addressing the physical anomalies. The anatomical anomaly can be treated surgically by elongating the vagina and creating a neovagina. The procedure for creating a neovagina is called vaginoplasty and the McIndoe technique is often used to establish a vaginal canal prior to graft stabilisation of the neovagina. Vaginal stenosis following the surgery is the most common complication observed. Patency maintenance is key to a successful surgery; therefore, vaginal stents are fabricated. They not only serve as a haemostat but also as a graft stabiliser and prevent the shrinking or contraction of the neovagina. This review outlines and describes various methods for fabricating customised vaginal stents. It aims to provide readers with an overview of both old and new innovations employed in the fabrication of vaginal stents/ vaginal dilators, taking both anatomical and psychological effects into consideration.