Diagnostic and therapeutic problems in a case of prenatally detected fetal hydrocolpos

Presence of Cervical Vertebral Anomalies with Concomitant Non-Communicating Hydrocephalus and Multicystic Kidney in a Female Fetus: Where VACTERL-H Meets MURCS

BACKGROUND

Congenital multisystemic lesions with co-occurrence of non-random malformations, such as VACTERL-H or MURCS association, often pose serious threads to the newborn and still constitute an antenatal diagnostic dilemma.

CASE REPORT

A malformed fetus with VACTERL-H association at 20 gestational weeks had a skin-covered neural tube defect (NTD) of the lower cervical spine, concomitant hydrocephalus, as well as unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney and the suspicion of mullerian duct anomaly as potentially assigned to MURCS association.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

We were able to demonstrate how well-defined, standardized volumetric reconstruction of diagnostic views displaying fetal pathology in utero might aid early and precise diagnosis of multi-organ malformations. Application of modern diagnostic imaging tools is helpful in delineation of the most likely diagnoses (VACTERL-H vs. MURCS) as further specified during detailed pathologic work-up and might consequently facilitate individually tailored interdisciplinary counseling, as in the case presented here.

Clinical spectrum of female genital malformations in prenatal diagnosis

Introduction

Fetal genital malformations represent a rare and heterogeneous group of congenital malformations of the disorders of sexual development (DSD) spectrum.

Methods

A thorough literature review on the main topics in the prenatal approach towards DSD was conducted.

Results

First, a thorough overview on prenatal characteristics of the most common fetal genital malformations of ovaries, uterus and external genitalia, and second, a standardized approach for differential diagnosis in the presence of direct and indirect prenatal signs of DSDs.

Conclusions

This review is mainly directed towards the aspects of female genital malformations with  aspects of male DSD explained as well to aid in the prenatal differential diagnosis.

An approach to giant neonatal hydrocolpos with normally sited anus - Diagnosis and management including a novel one stage operation

INTRODUCTION

Giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos is a rare entity where early recognition of the underlying cause and drainage of the distended vagina is paramount. Conventionally, immediate management has been by abdominal tube vaginostomy or, in urogenital sinus by vaginal clean intermittent catheterisation (CIC). Though effective in providing temporary relief, the abdominal tube vaginostomy is replete with complications, making it imperative to search for alternatives. Here we describe our method of emergent and definitive management of these children, where definitive repair, depending on the aetiology, has been made possible in a single stage.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Seven girls who presented primarily or with history of giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos at two tertiary care centres from January 2013 to March 2021 were studied retrospectively. None had imperforate anus or a bulging hymenal membrane. Four had high vaginal atresia (VA) and three had Urogenital sinus (UGS), one with high confluence. Four girls (2 VA, 2 UGS) presented to us as neonates and were managed by emergency drainage procedures other than tube vaginostomy: CIC in one (low UGS) and a novel abdominoperineal U flap vaginoplasty in three (2 VA, 1 high confluence UGS) which was also the definitive procedure. This procedure involved fashioning an inferiorly based inverted U flap from the posterior wall of distended vagina which is tubularised and flipped down by an abdomino-perineal procedure. The girl with a low UGS later underwent a perineal procedure. Three presented elsewhere as neonates (2 VA, 1 UGS) and had abdominal tube vaginostomy as the emergency drainage procedure. This was complicated by tube dislodgement and pyocolpos till successful reconstruction was performed by us. Successful reconstructions included the abdominoperineal U flap vaginoplasty in one (VA) and a perineal procedure in another (low UGS). One girl with high VA had an inflamed vagina after tube vaginostomy, precluding the U flap vaginoplasty, and underwent abdominal vaginal mobilisation and pull through complicated by partial vaginal necrosis with septic complications.

RESULTS

Reconstruction resulted in a patent and a good calibre neo-vagina in all at a mean follow up of 48 months.

CONCLUSION

Immediate management of giant non cloacal neonatal hydrocolpos may either be vaginal CIC or a surgical procedure. The abdomino-perineal U flap vaginoplasty is a one stage neonatal procedure that provides effective drainage and forms a definitive neo-vagina. An abdominal tube vaginostomy can be avoided except where neonatal surgical expertise is unavailable.

Treatment of a Congenital Imperforate Vestibulovaginal Junction and Secondary Hydrocolpos With Endoscopic Laser Ablation in Two Dogs

Two dogs were evaluated for clinical signs including dysuria, stranguria, and/or dyschezia. Physical examination findings were consistent with a caudal abdominal and intra-pelvic mass. Imaging with abdominal ultrasonography confirmed the presence of a tubular fluid-filled structure. In 1 dog computed tomography identified the fluid-filled structure to be the vagina and hydrocolpos was suspected. Endoscopic evaluation of the urogenital tracts identified imperforate vaginas in both dogs, and endoscopic-guided laser ablation was used to create a vaginal opening into the vestibule. Initial response to treatment was positive in both dogs, although 1 dog developed a recurrence of hydrocolpos 1-month after treatment. Endoscopic laser ablation provided a minimally invasive option for opening an imperforate vagina and no procedural complications occurred. Further evaluation is needed to determine the long-term effectiveness of this procedure.

Cloacal Malformation in Female Children: Outcome of Initial Management

Objective:

To document our experience of initial management of Cloacal malformation in female patients.

Methods:

A descriptive retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the National Institute of Child Health Karachi from January 2010 to September 2018. Female patients with diagnosis of Cloacal malformation were included in this study. Data regarding the age at presentation, mode of presentation, clinical features, presence of hydrocolpos, and associated anomalies were noted. Surgical procedures performed in these patients and the outcomes were also documented. Data was analyzed on SPSS Version 20.

Results:

Sixty females were included in the study. Age ranged from birth to three years with a median of four days. Patients admitted through emergency were 44 (73.33%) while 16 (26.66%) were admitted through outpatient clinic. Hydrocolpos was found in 15 (25.00%) patients. Five (8.33%) patients had massive abdominal distention and were presented with severe respiratory distress. Among them three had massive hydrocolpos, one patient had pneumoperitoneum secondary to Meckel’s perforation and one patient was having massive colonic dilatation. Hydronephrosis and hydroureter were found in 14 (23.33%) patients, while dilated bladder was found in three (5.00%) patients. After optimization of patients, bowel diversion was done as transverse colostomy in 39 (65.00%) patients, high sigmoid colostomy in 17(28.33%) patients while ileostomy was done in three (5.00%) patients. All patients with hydrocolpos had tube vaginostomy. None of the patients required bladder diversion and urinary tract dilatations were gradually subsided in nine patients in the post-operative period. Associated anomalies were found in 22(36.66%) of cases predominantly of sacral origin. Operative complications were found in 18(30.00%) patients, including stoma site in infection in 12(20.00%) patients, vaginal tube dislodgement in two patients, wrong placement of tube in one patient and vaginostomy stenosis in one case. While bowel stoma retraction occurred in four patients, prolapsed was found in three patients. Renal failure occurred in one patient. In total, 37(61.00%) patients had smooth recovery, 18(30.00%) patients had some complications, while Five (8.33%) patients were expired due to sepsis.

Conclusions:

Majority of cloacal malformations present in neonatal life. Initial management is an important step in dealing with these patients. Care must be taken during the abdominal exploration regarding drainage of hydrocolpos and appropriate placement of bowel stoma.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Hydro(metro)colpos: A Series of 20 Cases

BACKGROUND

Hydrocolpos and hydrometrocolpos are rare malformations caused by accumulation of secretion due to congenital obstruction of the vagina. Hydro(metro)colpos may be isolated or can be combined with other malformations as part of a syndromic disorder. We report on a series of 20 cases with hydro(metro)colpos diagnosed prenatally, delineate the differential diagnoses, and illustrate the spectrum of associated malformations.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective study involving 20 fetuses with hydro(metro)colpos at two large tertiary referral centers in Germany over an 18-year period (2000-2017).

RESULTS

The median diagnosis was made at 30+4 weeks of gestation, the earliest at 20+6 weeks, the latest at 37+2 weeks. All 20 fetuses presented with the typical cystic structure behind the fetal bladder. Additional malformations included urogenital malformations, hexadactyly, and heart defects. Postnatal follow-up revealed that hydro(metro)colpos was associated with anorectal malformation in 11/20 fetuses, McKusick-Kaufman syndrome or Bardet-Biedl syndrome in 4/20 fe tuses, Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome in 3/20 fetuses, and Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich syndrome in 1/20. In 1 fetus pressure from an intraabdominal teratoma resulted in prenatal hydro(metro)colpos.

CONCLUSION

Hydro(me tro)colpos is a rare prenatal sonographic feature. Multidisciplinary prenatal counseling should include all potential syndromes that can present with hydro(metro)colpos in the prenatal setting.

Radiological Diagnosis of Neonatal Hydrometrocolpos- A Case Report

A three-day-old female child presented to us with abdominal distension and lower limb swelling. On ultrasound examination, there was a cystic mass contiguous with the uterus in the lower abdomen and pelvis which showed fluid- debris level. This mass was causing displacement of the urinary bladder anteriorly. MRI confirmed the findings of ultrasound. A diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos secondary to imperforate hymen was made following physical examination. Neonatal hydrometrocolpos is a rare condition which requires a high index of suspicion for diagnosis. Hydrometrocolpos refers to the accumulation of secretions within the endometrial and endovaginal canal. Diagnosis can be made prenatally or post natally using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. Early diagnosis reduces the incidence of complications.

Ascites, hydrocolpos, hydrometrocolpos with normal amniotic fluid in a fetus with partial urorectal septum malformation sequence

Urorectal septum malformation sequence (URSMS) describes a range of anatomic anomalies in the urogenital and lower gastrointestinal organs caused by incomplete urorectal membrane septation and persistence of the cloacal membrane. Partial URSMS is a milder version characterized by a single perineal opening. We report a case of partial URSMS that associated an intact Mullerian system, single perineal opening, blind colon, imperforate anus and vagina, urethrovaginal connection, and ambiguous genitalia. Hydrocolpos, hydrometrocolpos, and ascites were seen in utero and confirmed on postnatal surgery. This case describes the changes in sonographic findings that evolved throughout the gestation.

Two neonates with congenital hydrocolpos

Introduction. Neonatal hydrocolpos is a rare condition. Hydrocolpos is cystic dilatation of the vagina with fluid accumulation due to a combination of stimulation of secretary glands of the reproductive tract and vaginal obstruction. The differential for a neonatal presentation of lower abdominal mass includes urogenital anomalies, Hirschsprung's, disease or sacrococcygeal teratoma. Prenatal diagnosis and early newborn imaging studies leads to early detection and treatment of these cases. Case. We report here two cases of neonatal hydrocolpos with prenatal diagnosis of lower abdominal mass. Postnatally, ultrasound, MRI imaging, and cystoscopy confirmed large cystic mass as hydrocolpos with distal vaginal obstruction. Both patients had enlarged renal system secondary to mass effect. Conclusion. High index of suspicion for hydrocolpos in a newborn presenting with fetal diagnosis of infraumbilical abdominal mass will facilitate timely intervention and prevention of complications.

Prenatal diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos in a Down syndrome fetus

We report the prenatal sonographic diagnosis of hydrometrocolpos caused by an imperforate hymen in a Down syndrome fetus, with spontaneous evacuation on the third day of life. In this case, sonographic evaluation in the 37th week revealed a large retrovesical, sharply marginated, heterogeneous, unilocular cystic structure within the fetal abdomen extending to the left side of the umbilicus.

Prenatal diagnosis of cloacal malformations

INTRODUCTION

Prenatal diagnosis of anorectal malformations currently occurs in 0-15.9% of screened cases. In cloacas, these numbers are unknown. We speculate that some images from prenatal ultrasound studies may suggest the diagnosis of cloaca, but are not recognized because of a lack of suspicion for this diagnosis.

METHODS

A retrospective review of the medical records of 489 patients born with cloaca was performed; 95 of them had prenatal ultrasound reports that represent the material analyzed for this study. A literature review was performed, finding 31 publications, with 68 cloaca patients detected by prenatal images. The abnormal findings of our patients were compared with those described in the literature to determine the most common abnormal prenatal images found in patients with cloaca.

RESULTS

The 95 ultrasound reports found in our patients described 270 abnormalities, the most frequent were: abdominal/pelvic cystic/mass (39), hydronephrosis (36), oligohydramnios (23), distended bowel/bowel obstruction (19), ascites (15), 2 vessel cord (14), dilated bladder (14), dilated ureter (14), polyhydramnios (10), echogenic bowel (8), multicystic kidney (8), "ambiguous genitalia" (7), hydrops fetalis (7), hydrocolpos (4), absent kidney (3), abnormal spine (3), and anorectal atresia (3). In spite of these findings, the radiologists who interpreted the studies only suspected a cloaca in 6 cases (6%). The literature review showed 212 abnormalities in 68 demonstrated cloaca patients. The most frequent were: abdominal/pelvic cystic/mass (46), hydronephrosis (44), ascites (21), oligohydramnios (20), distended bowel (11), multicystic dysplastic kidney (7), ambiguous genitalia (6), non-visualization of the bladder (6), two-vessel cord (5), dilated bladder (5), intraabdominal calcification (4), polyhydramnios (4), enterolithiasis (4), hydrometrocolpos (3), and dilated ureter (3).

CONCLUSION

We conclude that it is possible to suspect the diagnosis of cloaca, prenatally, more frequently than what currently occurs, looking at the same images but with an increased index of suspicion for cystic abdominal masses and a combination of gastrointestinal and urological abnormalities.

Hydrocolpos in cloacal malformations

INTRODUCTION

Hydrocolpos is a condition rarely mentioned in the literature. The purpose of this report is to increase the index of suspicion for hydrocolpos in patients with cloaca and to describe our approach for its treatment with the hope that errors in the management of hydrocolpos can be avoided.

METHODS

We reviewed 411 medical records of patients diagnosed with cloaca and managed at our Center during the last 26 years. Emphasis was placed on evaluating for the presence of hydrocolpos, type of drainage, and complications related to the persistence of the hydrocolpos.

RESULTS

One hundred seventeen cloaca patients had an associated hydrocolpos (28.4%). Forty-two cases (36%) were initially managed at other institutions at which the hydrocolpos was not drained. Complications experienced by this group included: multiple urinary tract infections (8), hydrocolpos infection (7), sepsis (7), failure to thrive (6), ruptured hydrocolpos (4), and development of hydronephrosis in previously normal kidneys (2). Forty-one patients (35%) had other modalities of treatment, aimed to drain the hydrocolpos, including vesicostomy (26), intermittent perineal catheterization (8), single aspiration (6), or plasty of the perineal orifice (1). In all of these cases, the hydrocolpos persisted or reaccumulated. Thirty-four patients (29%) underwent an effective drainage of the hydrocolpos at birth; 29 at other institutions, 15 with a tube vaginostomy, 13 with a tubeless vaginostomy, and 1 with a catheter placed and left in the vagina through cystoscopy. Five cases had a tube vaginostomy done by us. In all these cases, the vagina remained adequately drained as demonstrated radiologically. Proper drainage of the hydrocolpos alone, with no urologic intervention, dramatically improved the hydronephrosis in 13 cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydrocolpos in patients with cloacas must be diagnosed and treated early in life. Our preferred approach is a transabdominal indwelling vaginostomy tube. The drainage of the hydrocolpos alone may dramatically improve the hydronephrosis, and therefore, we suggest that only after the hydrocolpos is drained should a urological intervention be contemplated. Failure to drain the hydrocolpos can result in serious complications.

Fetal urogenital sinus with consecutive hydrometrocolpos because of labial fusion: prenatal diagnostic difficulties and postpartal therapeutic management

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the differential diagnoses of tumorous dilations in the fetal pelvic region detected by prenatal ultrasound and the postnatal management demonstrated on a fetus with 29 weeks of gestation with a retrovesical located bottle-like cystic structure measuring 54 x 31 x 27 mm within the pelvis. Postnatal findings were a labial fusion and a consecutive hydrometrocolpos due to a urethrovaginal fistula.

METHOD

Case report of a fetus affected by an intricate cloacal anomaly.

RESULTS

The long-term prognosis for this nonsyndromic form of hydrometrocolpos without any other structural defects or organic failures after operative sanitation is excellent. Final reconstruction is planned at about 12 months of age.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal diagnosis of tumorous dilations in the fetal pelvic region often involves difficulties because of numerous differential diagnoses and possible presentation in late pregnancy. Magnetic resonance imaging could be a useful complementary tool for assessing these anomalies when ultrasonography is inconclusive. In some cases, the final diagnosis cannot be confirmed until after delivery.

Fetal magnetic resonance imaging in the antenatal diagnosis and management of hydrocolpos

Hydrocolpos should be considered systematically when an abdominopelvic cystic mass is diagnosed in a female fetus. Because the prognosis and neonatal management of isolated hydrocolpos with spontaneous resolution differs greatly from that of hydrocolpos associated with a cloacal malformation, it is important to ascertain prenatally whether there are associated anomalies. We report the prenatal characteristics of three fetuses with hydrocolpos; in two cases there was spontaneous resolution and one infant was born with digestive tract atresia. The principal ultrasound findings were an oblong anechoic pelvic mass with or without a sagittal septum, located behind a normal bladder. On magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the cervical imprint on the vagina confirmed the diagnosis of hydrocolpos and helped to diagnose cloacal malformation by demonstrating the absence of meconium beside the bladder on T1 sequences. Our cases show that MRI is useful for differentiating isolated hydrocolpos from hydrocolpos associated with cloacal malformation.

Outcomes from the correction of anorectal malformations

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Anorectal malformations have been recognized and managed since antiquity, with surgical treatment evolving to maximize anatomic reconstruction, avoid complications, and understand mechanisms of incontinence, ultimately leading to improved quality of life for patients. This review describes recent advances in the management of anorectal malformations, including prenatal diagnosis, newborn treatment, surgical correction, and postoperative care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Surgical treatment has improved with better understanding and exposure of anatomy and appreciation of the intimate relation between rectum and urinary tract. Repair of cloacal malformations has evolved to include the total urogenital mobilization and an appreciation of the complex associated Mullerian anomalies. The importance of associated urologic, gynecologic, neurologic, and orthopedic malformations has been recognized. Addition of a bowel management program to patients' postoperative care has increased dramatically the number of children who are clean and dry.

SUMMARY

Management of anorectal malformations requires an accurate clinical diagnosis, proper newborn treatment, meticulous anatomic reconstruction, and comprehensive postoperative care with the goal of having a child who is clean and dry, with an excellent quality of life, because they either have the capacity for continence or can be kept artificially clean with a comprehensive bowel management program.

Pitfalls in the management of newborn cloacas

Clinicians caring for newborns with persistent cloaca face significant challenges in the newborn period. Avoiding key pitfalls during this time can have dramatic implications. We reviewed the medical records of 361 patients with cloaca operated on at our institution and analyzed sequelae that resulted from incorrect management in the newborn period. Of 361 patients, 282 underwent primary operations at our institution, and 79 patients were referred to us after a failed repair at other institutions. Pitfalls in management during the newborn period included the following: (1) Failure to recognize and manage hydrocolpos, which occurred in 46 patients. Of these, three patients developed pyocolpos (two progressed to vaginal perforation), and 43 suffered from persistent bilateral hydronephrosis, megaureters, recurrent urinary tract infections, persistent acidosis, or failure to thrive due to undrained hydrocolpos. They underwent unnecessary urinary drainage procedures (nephrostomy, ureterostomy, cystostomy, or vesicostomy) in the newborn period. When the vagina was finally decompressed, all of these symptoms disappeared. (2) Colostomy or vesicostomy problems, which occurred in 50 patients. These included incorrect placement of the colostomy (too distal, which interfered with the pull-through) in 24 and colostomy prolapse in 23. Incompletely diverting loop colostomies led to urinary tract infections in 49 patients. Vesicostomy prolapse occurred in three patients. (3) Clinical misdiagnosis, which occurred in 42 patients. Six were incorrectly diagnosed as "intersex" and 36 as "rectovaginal fistula." In this group only the rectum was repaired, and the patients were left with a urogenital sinus that required reoperation. Proper management of a newborn with cloaca includes drainage of a hydrocolpos, which avoids unnecessary urinary diversions and pyocolpos. Our preferred colostomy is one with separated stomas, adequate distal bowel for the pull-through, and use of a proper technique to avoid prolapse. Correct clinical diagnosis of cloaca avoids problems during the definitive repair.

Prenatal evaluation for fetal surgery

The selection of fetuses that may benefit with in utero surgery is being developed. Noninvasive and invasive prenatal diagnosis techniques are utilized to try and gain as much knowledge about the fetus so that the appropriate counseling of parents can be undertaken. The most common invasive techniques are amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling for fetal karyotyping and genetic diagnosis. Noninvasive techniques include ultrasound (2D and 3D), fetal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Additional techniques such as specific Doppler evaluation of vascular components, new techniques to look at fetal electrocardiograms and the use of computer tomography are also considered. The most common conditions for which in utero fetal surgery is also being considered are twin to twin transfusion syndrome, myelomeningocele, sacrococcygeal teratoma, cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung with fetal hydrops and other monochorionic twin abnormalities (severe discordant birth defects or twin reversal arterial perfusion sequences). Ongoing evaluation of the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predicted values of these evaluation tools is required so that appropriate selection of fetuses for the surgery can be made.