Sling suspension of the bladder neck for pediatric urinary incontinence

Multidisciplinary management of people with spina bifida across the lifespan

The average worldwide prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) is 1.0 per 1000 births. Its development is multifactorial due to genetic and non-genetic factors. Spina bifida (SB) is one of main representatives of NTD. The spinal cord lesion level is the main determinant of the level of paralysis, numbness, and difficulties with bladder/bowel functions. Myelomeningocele prenatal repair reduces hydrocephalus and hindbrain herniation and improves motor function. The severity of hydrocephalus is associated with poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes whether operated on prenatally or after birth. People with SB tend to have a lower IQ and cognitive difficulties. Early diagnosis, proactivity, and lifelong multidisciplinary follow-up are key protective issues. Invasive urological interventions should be considered in selected patients after failure of conservative treatment. Transition to adult care should be well planned as it is challenging. Health literacy is directly associated with success at transition. Sexuality and fertility should be addressed before/during puberty. Overall, the rates of fecal and urinary continence and skin breakdown increase with age, whereas the ability to ambulate declines with age. Bowel and urinary incontinence are independent predictors of lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with SB. Bowel incontinence has negative impact on HRQoL regardless of frequency or amount. Long-term caregiver support should be offered at diagnosis. Survival at a mean of 50 years is poor, at 32%, due to central nervous system deaths, cancer, urological disease, and sepsis. Challenges to implementation of recommended practices exist, especially in low and middle-income countries.

What makes the bladder neck sling procedure a success in a selected population of children and adolescents? A STROBE-compliant investigation

INTRODUCTION

Achievement of continence in children suffering from neurogenic bladder dysfunction or severe urogenital malformation is of fundamental importance to the wellbeing of affected children and their families. A valid approach to treating incontinence with hypoactive sphincter is the placement of a bladder neck sling thus increasing outlet resistance of the bladder.

OBJECTIVES

In this retrospective study in children and adolescents, we aimed to assess the outcome of bladder neck sling procedures conducted at our institution. In addition, we aimed to identify predictors of the successful correction of incontinence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We treated 36 patients (25 girls, 11 boys, aged 5.0-19.7 years). In total, 32 (88.9%) patients suffered from neurogenic incontinence. Overall, 16 patients had previously received unsuccessful injection of bulking agent into the bladder neck. For the bladder neck sling, we used a fascial strip of rectus abdominis muscle (n = 29), detrusor muscle (n = 6), or combined fascial and detrusor strip (n = 1). In 8 (22.2%) patients, the surgical procedure involved wrapping the strip around the bladder neck, while in 6 (16.7%) patients, the bladder neck was suspended with the sling. In 22 (61.1%) patients, the two techniques were combined. Overall, 22 (61.1%) and 9 (25.0%) patients additionally underwent enterocystoplasty or detrusorotomy, respectively. We assessed urinary continence of our patients after 3-6 months (first evaluation) and ≥12 months (final evaluation). We classified the state of continence as 'dry' (dry for >3 h between catheterizations and dry at night), 'significantly improved' (minimal incontinence, no more than one protective pad per day, interval of at least 3 h between catheterizations, dry at night, and no demand for additional treatment), or 'wet'. Bladder neck sling treatment was considered successful if the patient was rated as 'dry' or 'significantly improved'.

RESULTS

At the first evaluation, the bladder neck sling procedure proved successful in 19 (52.8%) patients. Enterocystoplasty significantly increased the success rate compared to detrusorotomy or no bladder augmentation (68.1% vs. 28.6%; p = 0.04). The remaining 17 patients who were still classified as wet after bladder neck sling placement subsequently underwent one or more additional interventions, i.e. implant injection (n = 11), bladder augmentation (n = 10), and/or sling replacement (n = 5). At the final evaluation after a median follow-up of 64.5 months (range, 12-181 months), continence without sling replacement was achieved in 29 (80.6%) of the 36 patients.

CONCLUSION

In our study population, bladder neck sling placement achieved good results in the treatment of severe organic urinary incontinence with hypoactive sphincter. To optimize treatment outcome, bladder neck sling placement should be combined with enterocystoplasty.

Comparison of antegrade and retrograde endoscopic injection techniques for neurogenic sphincteric incontinence in children with neurogenic bladder

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence is common in children with neuropathic bladder. Results of endoscopic injections of bulking agents in the bladder neck are promising but it remains unclear whether they should be performed an antegrade or retrograde fashion.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to compare the antegrade and retrograde endoscopic injection techniques for the treatment of urinary incontinence.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective study evaluating bladder neck dextranomer-hyaluronic acid polymer injections for urinary incontinence in children with neurogenic bladder was initiated in 1997. Children with normal bladder capacity and compliance and without uncontrolled detrusor overactivity or previous bladder neck surgery were included. Patients were classified as success (dry or significantly improved, the latter defined as no need for more than one pad per day, continent during night, and patient seeking no further treatment) or failure at regular follow-up visits.

RESULTS

During 1997-2016, 34 children underwent endoscopic treatment in a retrograde while 17 children in antegrade fashion (mean age 11 years, range 5-20). Most patients (n = 47/51) had neuropathic bladder due to congenital malformations, 13 (25%) had had previous bladder augmentation, and 19 (37%) were in wheelchair. Sex, age, etiology of neurogenic bladder, degree of physical impairment, or era of treatment (1997-2012 vs. 2012-2016) had no influence on success rates (Summary Table). After mean follow-ups of 69 (range 12-156) months, success rates were 71% for the antegrade and 53% for the retrograde technique (p = 0.366). Mean number of injections to obtain success was similar between the techniques (1.4 vs. 1.2). While the proportion of dry patients was similar between the two techniques (35%), the proportion of significantly improved patients tended to be higher after antegrade than retrograde injections (35% vs. 18%, p = 0.181).

DISCUSSION

Better visualization of the bladder neck may explain the tendency for improved results of antegrade compared to retrograde technique. Further studies in larger patient samples are needed to define the optimal endoscopic injection technique.

CONCLUSION

Long-term results of the antegrade endoscopic bladder neck injections of dextranomer-hyaluronic acid polymer for urinary incontinence in children with neurogenic bladder are promising.

Challenges in pediatric urologic practice: a lifelong view

The role of the pediatric urologic surgeon does not end with initial reconstructive surgery. Many of the congenital anomalies encountered require multiple staged operations while others may not involve further surgery but require a life-long follow-up and often revisions. Management of most of these disorders must extend into and through adolescence before transitioning these patients to adult colleagues. The primary goal of management of all congenital uropathies is protection and/or reversal of renal insult. For posterior urethral valves, in particular, avoidance of end-stage renal failure may not be possible in severe cases due to the congenital nephropathy but usually can be prolonged. Likewise, prevention or minimization of urinary tract infections is important for overall health and eventual renal function. Attainment of urinary continence is an important goal for most with a proven positive impact on quality of life; however, measures to achieve that goal can require significant efforts for those with neuropathic bladder dysfunction, obstructive uropathies, and bladder exstrophy. A particular challenge is maximizing future self-esteem, sexual function, and reproductive potential for those with genital anomalies such as hypospadias, the bladder exstrophy epispadias complex, prune belly syndrome, and Mullerian anomalies. Few endeavors are rewarding as working with children and their families throughout childhood and adolescence to help them attain these goals, and modern advances have enhanced our ability to get them to adulthood in better physical and mental health than ever before.

EAU/ESPU guidelines on the management of neurogenic bladder in children and adolescent part II operative management

BACKGROUND

Treatment in children and adolescents with a neurogenic bladder is primarily conservative with the goal of preserving the upper urinary tract combined with a good reservoir function of the bladder. However, sometimes-even in childhood-conservative management does not prevent the development of a low-compliant bladder or overactive detrusor.

MATERIAL & METHODS

After a systematic literature review covering the period 2000-2017, the ESPU/EUAU guideline for neurogenic bladder underwent an update.

RESULTS

In these patients, surgical interventions such as botulinum toxin A injections into the detrusor muscle, bladder augmentation, and even urinary diversion may become necessary to preserve the function of the upper (and lower) urinary tracts. The creation of a continent catheterizable channel should be offered to patients with difficulties performing transurethral clean intermittent catheterization. However, a revision rate of up to 50% needs to be considered. With increasing age continence of urine and stool becomes progressively more important. In patients with persistent weak bladder outlets, complete continence can be achieved only by surgical interventions creating a higher resistance/obstruction at the level of the bladder outlet with a success rate of up to 80%. In some patients, bladder neck closure and the creation of a continent catheterizable stoma is an option.

CONCLUSION

In all these patients close follow-up is mandatory to detect surgical complications and metabolic consequences early.

Surgical Management of Neurogenic Sphincter Incompetence in Children

We report on the results of a literature review regarding the indications and results of operations to increase bladder outlet resistance to achieve dryness in children with neurogenic sphincter incompetence (NSBD). The relative advantages and disadvantages of injection of bulking agents, periurethral slings, bladder neck reconfiguration, artificial sphincters, and bladder neck closure based on a literature review and our combined clinical experience are discussed. Based on this review and our experience, we propose that periurethral injection of bulking agents is not justified as a primary treatment. Likewise, operations that reconfigure the bladder neck are not very useful since most patients also require bladder augmentation and an abdominal catheterizable channel. Bladder neck slings with autologous tissues are effective, mostly in females bur in the majority of patients a bladder augmentation is necessary. There is a role also for implantation of artificial urinary sphincters but when done as an isolated procedure, close monitoring to detect possible detrusor changes is needed. Bladder neck closure is an effective measure when other methods have failed.

Managing adult urinary incontinence from the congenitally incompetent bladder outlet

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Treatment of urinary incontinence in adult patients with congenital incompetent bladder outlet (exstrophy-epispadias complex, cloacal anomalies, or neurogenic bladder secondary to myelomeningocele) is a challenging surgical problem. In this review article, we summarize and highlight recent studies in the management of incontinence in this patient population.

RECENT FINDINGS

The literature regarding management of urinary incontinence in this patient population is scarce. Injection of bulking agents to the bladder neck, artificial/autologous slings, artificial urinary sphincters, bladder neck reconstruction, bladder neck closure, or a combination of these are the cornerstone of management. Augmentation cystoplasty is a major adjunct procedure that can help increase continence rate and success of surgery in select patients. The level of evidence on bladder neck procedures for this patient population is low because of significant limitations, including small sample, heterogeneity of primary diagnosis/surgical techniques, variable definitions of continence, and the retrospective nature of most studies in this field.

SUMMARY

Standard options for treatment of urinary incontinence in the congenitally incompetent bladder outlet procedure remain unchanged. There is no single reproducible procedure to accomplish the goal of renal preservation and continence in these patients, and often patients require multiple procedures to achieve continence. Most importantly, the pediatric and adult urologist should continue to work toward achieving a well tolerated and efficient transition of care. There is a need to standardize data acquisition and reporting of outcomes. Although randomized control studies would be ideal, because of the small number of patients with these conditions, this may not be practical. Collaboration and continued discussion among experts in the field is needed to gain a better understanding of the optimal management strategy in this growing patient population.

New hydronephrosis and/or vesicoureteral reflux after bladder outlet surgery without augmentation in 75 children with neurogenic bladder

OBJECTIVE

We report new upper tract changes in children after bladder neck (BN) surgery without augmentation for neurogenic incontinence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Consecutive children with neurogenic sphincteric incompetency had BN surgery without augmentation. Postoperative renal sonography and fluoroscopic urodynamics were done at 6 months, 12 months, and then annually.

RESULTS

There were 75 patients with mean follow-up of 48 months. Of these, 17 (23%) developed new hydronephrosis (HN) or vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). All HN resolved with medical management, as did 25% of VUR cases. Persistent VUR was treated by dextranomer/hyaluronic acid injection, or re-implantation in two patients undergoing re-operative BN surgery. There was no association between these upper tract changes and end filling pressures (<40 cm vs. >40 cm) or continence status (dry vs. wet).

CONCLUSIONS

Upper tract changes developed in 25% of patients with neurogenic bladders after BN surgery without augmentation during a follow-up of 48 months. All new HN and most new VUR resolved with medical management or minimally invasive intervention. No patient developed upper tract changes requiring augmentation.

Vesicoscopic bladder neck procedure in children: what we have learned from the first series

OBJECTIVE

To assess the results of endoscopic bladder neck procedure on the anterior bladder wall in children.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Surgery is done in the lithotomy position using three 5-mm ports. The bladder is insufflated with CO2. A U-shaped incision is made around the bladder neck. A mucosal strip is tabularized around a 12 French catheter and covered with the second layer of mucosa. Twenty procedures were performed on 18 patients (mean age, 9.8 years), and the follow-up period was >1 year (mean, 34 months). Mean operation time was 149 minutes. Twelve patients had neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Fifteen patients failed earlier bladder neck surgery, predominantly fascia sling suspension. Preoperatively, all patients had low detrusor leak point pressure. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was resumed through the urethra in 11 patients and through a stoma in 6 patients.

RESULTS

Two patients needed conversion because of CO2 leakage. Six patients were dry, and 4 improved in the short term (3-6 months). After 1 year of follow-up, 2 patients were dry, and 6 improved. In the long term, 1 (9%) out of 11 patients who were catheterized through the urethra was dry, and 3 of the 11 patients (27%) improved. Of the 6 patients with a CIC stoma, 1 (17%) was dry, and 3 (50%) improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic bladder neck surgery is, for most patients, a minor operation, but the long-term results are disappointing. The construction of a continent channel for CIC can improve the outcome when anterior bladder neck plasty is performed.

Surgical management of pediatric urinary incontinence

The surgical management of pediatric urinary incontinence secondary to neurogenic bladder and congenital anomalies is challenging, and continues to evolve with new surgical innovations. The goal of these surgical procedures is to achieve complete and socially acceptable urinary dryness, while preserving volitional voiding where possible, without causing damage to the upper tracts. This review focuses on recent studies and highlights the pros and cons of these advances, based on our experience. The short-term success in achieving urinary continence has to be tempered with the long-term implications of these reconstructive procedures, about which our knowledge is limited.

Bladder augmentation and urinary diversion in patients with neurogenic bladder: surgical considerations

In patients with a neurogenic bladder, the primary goal is preservation of renal function and prevention of urinary tract infection, with urinary continence as the secondary goal. After failure of conservative treatment (clean intermittent catheterisation and pharmacotherapy) urinary diversion should be considered. In this review, the surgical options with their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. In patients with a hyper-reflexive, small-capacity and/or low-compliance bladder with normal upper urinary tract, bladder augmentation (bowel segments/ureter) is an option. To those who are unable to perform clean intermittent catheterisation via urethra, a continent cutaneous stoma can be offered. In patients with irreparable sphincter defects a continent cutaneous diversion is an option. For patients who are not suitable for a continent diversion (incompliant±chronic renal failure), a colonic conduit for incontinent diversion is preferred. Surgical complications specific to urinary diversion include: ureterointestinal stenosis, stomal stenosis, stone formation, bladder perforation, and shunt infection and obstruction. Surgical revision is required in around one third of patients. Careful lifelong follow-up of these patients is necessary, as some of these complications can occur late.

Urologic care of the neurogenic bladder in children

Initial care of newborns with spina bifida centers on preventing bladder and upper tract damage from detrusor leak point pressure of greater than 40 cm H(2)O. The authors recommend using urodynamic-based management to select patients with elevated pressures for anticholinergic therapy and intermittent catheterization (CIC), using diapers and observation with biannual renal sonography for the remainder. At the age of toilet training, children who have urodynamic evidence of uninhibited contractions or rising pressure during filling are started on anticholinergics and CIC, or have their dosage increased until pressures less than 40 cm H(2)O and areflexia are achieved. Sphincter incompetency is diagnosed in incontinent children with pressures less than 40 cm H(2)O and areflexia or stress incontinence. Augmentation is indicated in patients with hydronephrosis or reflux and end-filling pressures or DLPP less than 40 cm H(2)O despite medical management to the point of patient tolerance. A minority of patients, not yet well-defined, will also need augmentation after bladder outlet surgery for similar postoperative indications.