Obstructed Hemivagina and Renal Anomalies in Patients with and without Anorectal Malformations.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the anatomic variation between patients with a diagnosis of an obstructed hemivagina with an anorectal malformation (ARM) and those without an ARM. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review conducted at a single tertiary children's hospital. Patients with an obstructed hemivagina seen from 2004 to 2019 were included. RESULTS: We identified a total of 9 patients diagnosed with an obstructed hemivagina: 4 patients with a history of ARM and 5 patients without an ARM. Patients presented with obstructive symptoms between the ages of 11 and 20. Two-thirds of patients had a left-sided obstruction. All patients without an ARM had ipsilateral congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Half the patients with a history of ARM had an ipsilateral renal anomaly, and the other half had a contralateral renal anomaly. CONCLUSION: Obstructed hemivagina occurs in patients with a history of ARM. However, unlike patients with isolated obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly (OHVIRA), patients with an ARM and an obstructed hemivagina can present with associated renal anomalies on either the ipsilateral or contralateral side. In our small case series, patients with a history of ARM had high septa and required more complex surgical management due to the inability to access the septum vaginally. Knowledge of renal anatomy and ureteral path is important because a hysterectomy may be needed to relieve the obstruction in patients with ARMs. A larger case series is needed to better characterize the spectrum of complex anomalies in patients with ARMs.

Caregiver goals and satisfaction for menstrual suppression in adolescent females with developmental disabilities: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adolescents with developmental disabilities and their caregivers often seek menstrual management. Caregivers frequently serve as medical decision-makers, and little is known about caregiver goals for menstrual management and satisfaction over time. OBJECTIVE: Assess caregiver reasons for initiating menstrual management in adolescents with disabilities and satisfaction over 12 months. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of caregivers of adolescents with developmental disabilities seeking menstrual management at a pediatric and adolescent gynecology clinic. Data derive from caregiver surveys and adolescents' electronic medical records. RESULTS: Ninety-two caregiver-adolescent pairs enrolled. The mean age of adolescents was 14.4 (±2.6). The most common method started was levonorgestrel intrauterine device (LNG-IUD; 52, 56.5%), followed by oral norethindrone acetate (21, 22.8%). Caregivers cited hygiene concerns (84.8%), behavioral problems (52.2%), and heavy/excessive bleeding (48.9%) as reasons for initiating menstrual suppression. Caregivers who identified hygiene or heavy/excessive bleeding as the most important reason for management were more likely to select LNG-IUD (p = 0.009). Caregivers who cited behavioral/mood or seizure concerns as the most important reason were more likely to choose other methods (p < 0.05). At 12 months, caregiver satisfaction with all methods was high (66.2-86.9 on a 100-point scale). For every additional day of bleeding, satisfaction decreased by 3.7 points (95% CI: 2.3-5.0). CONCLUSIONS: Caregiver satisfaction with all methods is high; however, it negatively correlates with days of bleeding. Caregiver reasons for menstrual suppression influence the method chosen. Management may reflect both patient and caregiver priorities; research is needed to better understand shared decision-making models that promote reproductive autonomy in adolescents with a developmental disability.