Hydrometrocolpos etiology and management: past beckons the present.

Hydrometrocolpos is a rare condition in which the uterus and the vagina are grossly distended with a retained fluid other than pus or blood. It may present during the neonatal period or later at puberty. Most cases reported earlier were stillbirths and were diagnosed only on autopsy. Antenatal diagnosis is now possible with the advent of ultrasound. An early diagnosis and speedy management is the key to survival. Many previous case reports have focused on the varied clinical presentations, multiple causes, associated syndromes and/or the radiological diagnosis of this condition. However, management options for different types of hydrometrocolpos have not yet been concisely discussed. We have reviewed the literature and tried to summarize the management options applicable to most case scenarios of hydrometrocolpos.

Short-term "double natural orifice catheterization": Nonoperative management of hydrocolpos in persistent cloaca patients - case series.

PURPOSE: Management of hydrocolpos in cloaca patients is of clinical importance. We report a nonoperative method for the management of hydrocolpos in the form of initial catheter decompression, followed by an endoscopy with catheters placement into both the bladder and vagina, and leaving these catheters for 9 and 14days respectively. METHODS: The medical records of six cloaca patients with hydrocolpos in the last 12years were reviewed. The outcomes measured were the renal function, bladder emptying, the presence/resolution of hydronephrosis, and the recurrence of hydrocolpos. RESULTS: Complete drainage of hydrocolpos was achieved in four out of six cases and partial drainage in two. On common channel endoscopy, in four patients the structures were identified and balloon catheters inserted. After catheter removal, the vagina and urinary tract remained adequately drained through the natural cloacal opening with no post-micturition residual urine, resolution of hydroneprosis within 60days, preserved renal function, and no hydrocolpos reaccumulation. CONCLUSION: Initial decompression and short time catheterization can be the definite solution for some cloaca patients with hydrocolpos. Our case-series showed a success rate in two-thirds of patients by achieving the three main goals; permanent hydrocolpos derivation, undisturbed voiding, and preservation of renal function. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Study can be classified as a Treatment Study, LEVEL IV Case series with no comparison group.

[Hydrocolpos and hydrometrocolpos in newborns]. / Hydrocolpos et hydrométrocolpos du nouveau-né

Hydrocolpos and the hydrometrocolpos are anomalies resulting from vaginal and uterine retention and accumulation of cervicovaginal secretions caused by congenital malformation. It is a rare pathology affecting the female newborn and infant and much less often young girls. It appears clinically as an abdominal mass associated with absence or abnormality of the vaginal opening. The diagnosis is confirmed by abdominal echography and CT scan. Treatment varies from the simple X-shaped hymenotomy for the isolated imperforate hymen to major surgery for substantial retentions and complex urogenital abnormalities. The authors report two cases of hydrocolpos and hydrometrocolpos discovered in the neonatal period. These were two newborn babies resulting from poorly followed pregnancies at which the clinical examination noted in both cases a large abdominal mass. The physical examination, imagery and surgical exploration demonstrated the existence of enormous hydrocolpos with imperforate hymen in 1 case and hydrometrocolpos with distal vaginal atresia in the second case. The treatment consisted of draining the secretions for both patients, after an X-shaped hymenotomy for the first and after section anastomosis of the vaginal atresia for the second. Both cases progressed favorably.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of neonatal pyometrocolpos under local anesthesia.

Hydrometrocolpos is an uncommon congenital disorder with cystic dilatation of the vagina and uterus that occurs as a result of accumulated secretions from the reproductive tract due to distal genital tract obstruction. Secondary infection may also occur, resulting in pyometrocolpos, a potentially lethal disease. Immediate drainage of the cystic mass in patients determined to have pyometrocolpos is required to prevent or treat uropathy and septicemia until definitive corrective surgery can be performed. We report an unusual cause of obstructive uropathy in three infants: pyometrocolpos due to lower genital tract atresia. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of the pyometrocolpos resulted in dramatically improved clinical and laboratory findings in these patients. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage under local anesthesia is a simple, minimally invasive, safe, and effective procedure that facilitates later successful corrective surgery and avoids the need for more complex drainage procedures.