Laparoscopic Vaginal-Assisted Hysterectomy With Complete Vaginectomy for Female-To-Male Genital Reassignment Surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and vaginectomy for genital reassignment surgery is a complex procedure that is usually performed with a combined vaginal and abdominal approach. The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility of laparoscopic vaginectomy in sex reassignment surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the relevant medical history, intra/postoperative complications, and surgical results of all patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria and submitted to totally laparoscopic gender confirmation surgery in our department between January 2007 and March 2015. In total, 23 patients underwent total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and vaginectomy in a single intervention. The vaginal mucosa was conserved to be used for the penile neourethra during the subsequent phalloplasty. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The surgeries had an average operating time of 155 ± 42 minutes. No intraoperative complications were registered. In all patients, the vagina was totally removed, and, in most cases (n = 20), we were able to remove laparoscopically more than 50% of the vagina. Three patients had postoperative complications. One patient presented with hemoperitoneum on the second postoperative day; another presented with prolonged urinary retention, and a third patient developed a perineal hematoma 1 month after surgery. Patients were discharged less than 72 hours after surgery, except the patient who developed a postoperative hemoperitoneum. For all patients, we obtained an adequate specimen of vaginal mucosa to reconstruct the penile neourethra for the subsequent phalloplasty. CONCLUSION: This study suggests the feasibility of laparoscopic vaginectomy in genital reassignment surgery. The procedure can be executed as a continuation of the hysterectomy with the potential advantage of the laparoscopy providing better exposure of the anatomic structures with low blood losses (less than 500 mL) and few complications. Furthermore, using this approach, adequate-sized vaginal mucosa flaps were obtained for the urethral reconstruction.

An Option for Shaft-Only Gender-Affirming Phalloplasty: Vaginal Preservation and Vulvoscrotoplasty. A Technical Description.

SUMMARY: Genital masculinizing gender-affirming surgery is a growing field. Because of a spectrum of gender identity, gender expression, sexual expression, patient desires, and patient tolerance for complications, options for surgery vary accordingly. Shaft-only phalloplasty avoids urethral lengthening, but may still be accompanied by hysterectomy, vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, clitoroplasty (burying of the clitoris), glansplasty, and placement of erectile devices and testicular implants. Patients who desire retention of vaginal canal patency are candidates for vaginal preservation vulvoscrotoplasty; however, there is a paucity of literature describing the procedure and its outcomes. In this article, the authors review the technique used by the senior author at Oregon Health and Science University and report surgical outcomes for four patients. Future studies regarding patient-recorded outcome measures, aesthetics, sexual function, urologic function, patient satisfaction, and conversion to other options will help surgeons better understand patients pursuing gender-affirming surgery through shaft-only phalloplasty.

Prosthetic Placement After Phalloplasty.

Significant developments have enabled the transformation of phalloplasty to a functional organ. Differences exist in the surgical placement of a prosthesis when within a phallus, such as the lack of corpora, pubic fixation requirement, distal sock placement, and the consideration of a vascular pedicle. Increased complications compared with nonphalloplasty cohorts remain one of the biggest challenges, including rates of infection, erosion, mechanical malfunction, and malposition. Nonetheless, the placement of penile prosthesis within a phalloplasty enables trans men to achieve a once near-impossible goal of penetrative sexual intercourse without an external device.