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.