KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. has announced that it will commence the marketing of its Neovagina Surgery Set and Accessories for minimally invasive treatment of vaginal agenesis in female patients. Used in conjunction with a laparoscopic surgical technique, the instrument set creates and enlarges the vaginal cavity. As a non-surgical treatment vaginal dilators are usually used as the first attempt to treat vaginal agenesis. Surgical intervention is needed when attempts to create a vagina with dilator therapy are unsuccessful. It is important to note that both non-surgical as well as surgical treatment for vaginal agenesis require long-term use (months) of vaginal dilators. The surgery instrument set includes a pluggable, segmented dummy (a type of vaginal dilator) used for initial dilation, straight and curved thread guides for placing sutures, and a traction device for suture tightening. A set of graduated dilators is also included for use during post-operative care. Under general anesthesia, the surgical technique is performed and involves progressive intra-abdominal stretching of the vaginal membrane. The plastic dummy is inserted into the vaginal dimple and has two threads attached to the end that goes inside the body. An endoscope with an attached camera for visualization is inserted into the abdomen. Under endoscopic visualization, the surgeon introduces two threads into the abdominal cavity from the dimple on the skin where the opening of the vagina should be. The two threads are then pulled back outside the abdominal wall on either side of the navel and are attached to the traction device directly below the navel. This device is used to pull the threads taut and is progressively tightened every day. The device exerts continuous pressure to gradually pull the dummy into the body, forming the new vagina within a few days. Following surgery, regular use of the post-operative dummy over some months is necessary to complete formation of the neovagina.