Doctors at Moulvibazar 250-Bed District Hospital have successfully performed an advanced laparoscopic surgery to create a neovagina for a 30-year-old woman born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome.
The surgery is believed to be the first of its kind in Moulvibazar and was performed at a government hospital without a major abdominal incision.
The patient, whose identity has been withheld for privacy, is currently in stable condition, hospital sources said.
MRKH syndrome is a rare congenital condition in which a woman may have normal female physical development and functioning ovaries, but the uterus and upper part of the vagina are partially or completely absent.
The condition can have significant physical and psychological effects and may create difficulties in sexual and marital life.
In the latest procedure, doctors created a neovagina using an advanced laparoscopic technique. The surgeons made several small incisions through which a camera and specialized surgical instruments were inserted. The operation was performed while viewing the surgical field on a monitor.
The surgery was led by Dr Farzana Haque Porna, a gynecologist and surgeon at Moulvibazar 250-Bed District Hospital. Dr Shahi Arshad, an anesthesiologist, managed the anesthesia. Assistant physician Dr Imran Ahmed and senior staff nurses Monik Roy and Md Abdullah Mia were also part of the surgical team.
Dr Shahi Arshad said the procedure marked the first successful operation of its kind in Moulvibazar.
“Such treatment can cost around Tk6 lakh outside the district. Successfully performing such a complex procedure at a government hospital is a matter of pride for our entire medical team,” he said.
Dr Farzana Haque Porna said advanced laparoscopy allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions using a camera and specialized instruments.
“Compared with conventional open surgery, the laparoscopic approach avoids a large abdominal incision and generally results in less postoperative pain and blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and a faster recovery,” she said.
The procedure also leaves smaller scars than conventional open surgery.
Hospital officials said the successful operation marks an important milestone for healthcare services in the district and demonstrates the growing availability of advanced gynecological surgical care outside Dhaka.
According to the doctors, the availability of such specialized treatment locally could reduce the need for patients from Moulvibazar and surrounding areas to travel to Dhaka or other major cities, helping reduce both travel-related difficulties and treatment costs.
For the patient, the successful procedure could also bring significant improvements in quality of life and confidence after years of living with the challenges associated with the congenital condition.
The achievement is being viewed as an important step forward for advanced minimally invasive gynecological surgery in Moulvibazar.
Moulvibazar Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mamunur Rahman said, “Such a major operation is a milestone. I would like to thank the doctors involved in creating an artificial vaginal passage.”