ABSTRACT
Techniques The most commonly described technique for partial colpocleisis is a variation of the operation originally described by LeFort in 1877. Neugebauer, Langmade, Denehy, and others have described modifications in the procedure (5-7). The prolapsed cervix is grasped with a tenaculum and brought out through the introitus. A surgical marking pen is used to outline an area of vaginal epithelium to be removed on the anterior and posterior vaginal walls. The dimensions are chosen to leave sufficient epithelium for the lateral channels and a 1 to 2 cm dimple at the introitus. The epithelium is incised with a scalpel and sharply dissected off of the underlying tissue using Strully or Metzenbaum scissors. Alternatively, this dissection can be accomplished with needlepoint electrocautery, which minimizes blood loss. This dissection should be superficial to leave the entire rectovaginal and pubocervical fascia. The dissection is continued until the anterior and posterior epithelium is dissected free of underlying tissue.
