Simplification of Vaginoscopic Surgery Using a Self-retaining External Vulvar Sheet (Darwish Sheet)

This is a prospective cross-sectional interventional cohort study was performed at the Endoscopy Unit of the Woman's Health University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt, between July 2014 and January 2020. Participants were symptomatic patients with suspected narrow vagina. They were children, adolescents or nulliparous adult females scheduled for vaginoscopy to confirm the diagnosis and whenever indicated to remove a vaginal or cervical lesion or FB. All cases underwent a high-resolution 2D transabdominal ultrasonography with full-bladder technique to assess the vaginal integrity, length and width. If a mass was seen, the examiner commented on its origin (whether cervical or vaginal), its echogenicity, and its dimensions. In doubtful cases, a pelvic MRI was requested to confirm the diagnosis. Children with suspected FB were subjected to plain X-ray to confirm the diagnosis. Patients with definite or suspected vaginal or cervical lesions were included in this study. For young girls or virgin adults, every effort was exerted to avoid hymenal injury during vaginoscopy on their request. All the cases were prepared for a vaginoscopic surgery at the regular endoscopy unit in the immediate postmenstrual period (if postmenarchal) but young girls were operated on at any time.

Every patient was subjected to a sequential diagnostic conventional vaginoscopy (CV) followed by tight vaginoscopy (TV), and whenever required operative TV. Vulvar tightness was made using a self-retaining external vulvar sheet (Darwish sheet). Under general anesthesia, all the cases were placed in the dorsal lithotomy position. Trendelenburg position was avoided because it hinders access to the entire vagina and the cervix, and may increase the risk of gas or air embolism. For adult cases, conventional hysteroscope was used as a vaginoscope. A 4-mm zero-degree telescope loaded inside a 5-mm outer sheath and connected to a light cable, with a pneumatic infusion pump for 0.9% saline irrigation, was inserted inside the vaginal introitus. At the investigator's institution, automatic infusion pumps are not used for vaginoscopic surgery as the vagina is a distensible organ unlike the uterus. The vaginoscope was gradually advanced inside the vagina (Figure 1) with reporting on the vaginal walls till the ectocervix. Proper examination of the cervix included the endocervical canal and the internal os. If feasible, the telescope was advanced to examine the endometrial cavity, searching for any associated intrauterine lesion, with a comment on the endometrial pattern and vasculature. Any suspected lesion was prepared for complete excision or at least biopsy to complete the diagnosis. On the other hand, for children, office hysteroscope (a 2.6-mm telescope and a 3.2-mm outer sheath) was used and the procedure was performed in the same way as that in adults, with exemption of uterine cavity examination. The visualized pattern of any vaginal or cervical lesion was reported. At the end of the procedure, the telescope loaded inside its sheath was extracted. The same patient was re-examined using TV. The vaginoscope penetrates a sterile self-retaining tight external silicone vulvar sheet (Darwish sheet) measuring 20x15 cm which is tied around the patient waist (Figure 2) with a central linear incision of 10 mm aiming to minimize the reflux of the irrigating fluid from the vagina. Comment on the appearance of the normal anatomy of the vagina (Figure 1) and the cervix, (Figure 3) any vaginal or cervical lesion like cervical polyps (figure 3,4) or foreign bodies (FB) (Figure 4), or a vaginal septum (video) was made. Importantly, the surgeon commented on clarity of visualization, amount of used and leaked 0.9% saline before and after application of Darwish sheet on the vulva.

For operative TV, a 27-Fr rotatory resectoscope loaded inside the sterile self-retaining tight external silicone vulvar sheet (Darwish sheet). Glycine 1.5% was used for monopolar resectoscopy. Vaginal or cervical polyps were excised by a loop electrode, while vaginal septum was cut using a hook electrode. FB was extracted using a flexible grasping forceps inserted in the vagina alongside the vaginoscope; if any difficulty was faced, the telescope was loaded inside rigid grasping forceps to extract the FB. A comment on the feasibility of surgery (clarity of visualization and access to the lesion), operative time and any possible complications was made. The amount of irrigated distension medium as well as escaped amount in the suction unit and that collected in a sterile plastic bag embedded under the buttocks of the patient were collected and measured after every case of the diagnostic CV, diagnostic TV, and operative TV. All endoscopic equipment was manufactured by Storz Co. (Tuttlingen, Germany). All excised tissues were sent for histopathologic assessment. The attached video shows different cases of diagnostic and operative vaginoscopy before and after application of Darwish sheet. The main outcome measures included clarity of visualization of the vagina and the cervix, estimation of infused and leaked distension medium before and after application of vulvar Darwish sheet and the success rate of operative TV whenever indicated. Postoperatively, the patients were kept under observation for 2-4 h and discharged whenever stable. All cases were followed up at least once after the next menses and examined clinically and by ultrasonography.