Persistent cloaca in the gynecologist's practice (a literature review)

Abstract

Introduction. Cloacal abnormalities are rare congenital malformations having the most severe and complex forms of anorectal and urogenital malformations. Patients - always females who are born with the persistent cloaca - at the stage of embryogenesis had a merging of lower urethra, vagina and rectum into a single canal or cavity which is opened posterior to the clitoris. The persistent cloaca remains a challenging reconstructive problem for pediatric gynecologists, urologists and surgeons. Doctors must have skills in surgical urology, proctology and in all types of plastic surgery on the vagina and cervix.Material and methods. Data searches were conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar. The following keywords were used: “Cloacal abnormalities” and “Persistent cloaca”.Conclusion. Regardless of a technique, goals for cloaca management remain the same. The primary surgical procedure is aimed to restore normal anatomical positioning of pelvic organs and to form the urethra, vagina and rectum as well as to achieve control over bowel function, urination and reproductive potential of the patient. A surgical correction of persistent cloaca should be performed in specialized medical institutions by specialists having experience in treating children with anorectal anomalies.