[Repair of vagina with segment of vascularized ileal graft following pelvic exenteration for carcinoma of rectum].

Objective: To introduce a method to repair the vagina following pelvic exenteration for carcinoma of rectum in which the posterior wall of the vagina and cervix of the uterus were often involved.
Methods: From 1990 to 1997 segment of the vascularized ileum was used to repair the vagina in 5 cases, and in 2 of which the whole vagina was repaired while in the other 3 cases only the posterior wall of the vagina was repaired.
Results: All of the patients had successful results after operation repair.
Conclusion: Vascularized graft was an ideal material for the repair of vagina defect following pelvic exenteration for carcinoma of rectum, because this material was easily accessible, and its vascular pedicle was long enough for its transferring to the perineal region and the ileum had good blood supply which made healing easy. The vagina following repair had a thick posterior wall, good elasticity and very little scar tissue surrounded.