Evaluation and Lifetime Management of the Urinary Tract in Patients with Myelomeningocele

Medical management of neurogenic bladder in patients with spina bifida: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Neurogenic bladder is a common source of morbidity in patients with spina bifida and can cause renal damage. Medical management may include imaging, urodynamic studies (UDS), laboratory testing, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), and medication. There is ongoing debate regarding the optimal management regimen. Approaches are described by two paradigms: proactive and expectant management. In a proactive approach, invasive interventions like CIC and UDS are initiated before the onset of renal abnormalities. In expectant management, UDS, CIC, and medications are started after abnormalities are identified. In this scoping review, we aim to comprehensively review existing literature on outcomes of proactive and expectant management of neurogenic bladder in patients with spina bifida.

METHODS

We searched multiple databases and screened articles for inclusion using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Included studies reported clinical outcomes of any aspect of proactive or expectant neurogenic bladder management in patients with spina bifida.

RESULTS

Ultimately, 74 articles were included for review including 67 cohort studies, 4 cross-sectional studies, 2 sequential cohort studies, and 1 randomized control trial. Eleven studies directly compared management strategies. There was substantial heterogeneity in study designs, management protocols, and reported outcomes. Most studies addressed multiple simultaneous aspects of management without specifically analyzing individual aspects. However, some commented on individual aspects of management including UDS (13), CIC (32), imaging (7), and medication (5). Although there was no consensus about optimal management, all direct comparisons of paradigms supported a proactive approach.

CONCLUSION

Our review identified a broad body of literature about optimal management of neurogenic bladder. Existing studies vary greatly in terms of treatment protocols, measured outcomes, and management recommendations. Overall, studies that directly compare management are scarce but favor proactive management. Given the implications on clinical outcomes, it is crucial to focus future work on directly comparing management strategies and isolating the effects of different individual management elements.

Scoping review of neurogenic bladder patient-reported readiness and experience following care in a transitional urology clinic

OBJECTIVE

To generate a scoping review that summarizes thematically on all reported patient perceptions on readiness and experiences during transitional urologic care for patients with neurogenic bladder and or congenital genitourinary conditions that require continuity of care into adulthood.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in October 2021. Records were screened and identified for studies relevant to reported readiness and experience in urologic transitional care among patients needing life-long urologic care. The methodological quality of the cross-sectional studies was assessed using AXIS. The included studies were clustered according to patient readiness in transition and patient experience-satisfaction in the urologic transition process. This scoping review was part of a systematic review registered on PROSPERO CRD42022306229 and was conducted in compliance with the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews.

RESULTS

A total of 12 articles were included that assessed patients with neurogenic bladder that reported either readiness or patient experience following the transitional care process. The patient readiness was assessed in six studies, determined using the TRAQ score with a range of 3-4/5. Older age, high health literacy, and parental or families' transition process awareness were associated with readiness. Generally, patients experience better satisfaction with pediatric care than with adult care facilities. Most patients felt that sexuality and fertility were not adequately tackled during the transition. The reported barriers to successful transition were patient, provider, and system factors, including lack of insurance coverage/financial management, patient preference, long-term bond with the pediatric providers, and communication by the adult provider. Based on AXIS, all of the studies identified for this scoping review did not determine the sample size, and most of the studies did not categorize the responders, which could introduce bias to the interpretation of their results.

CONCLUSION

This scoping review summarizes the readiness and experience of neurogenic bladder patients who underwent the urologic transitional process. Overall, understanding the patient, provider, and system factors associated with better readiness and enhancing the patient experience will ensure a better transition process.

Survey on Untethering of the Spinal Cord and Urological Manifestations among Spina Bifida Patients in Malaysia

The incidence and severity of urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to spina bifida is poorly understood in Malaysia. Tethering of the spinal cord is a pathological fixation of the cord in the vertebral column that can result in neurogenic bladder dysfunction and other neurological problems. It occurs in patients with spina bifida, and the authors of this study sought to investigate the impact of untethering on the urological manifestations of children with a tethered cord, thereby consolidating a previously known understanding that untethering improves bladder and bowel function. Demographic and clinical data were collected via an online questionnaire and convenient sampling techniques were used. A total of 49 individuals affected by spina bifida participated in this study. UTIs were reported based on patients’ observation of cloudy and smelly urine (67%) as well as urine validation (60%). UTI is defined as the combination of symptoms and factoring in urine culture results that eventually affects the UTI diagnosis in spina bifida individuals irrespective of CISC status. Furthermore, 18% of the respondents reported being prescribed antibiotics even though they had no history of UTI. Therefore, indiscriminate prescription of antibiotics by healthcare workers further compounds the severity of future UTIs. Employing CISC (73%) including stringent usage of sterile catheters (71%) did not prevent patients from getting UTI. Overall, 33% of our respondents reported manageable control of UTI (0–35 years of age). All individuals below the age of 5 (100%, n = 14) were seen to have improved urologically after the untethering surgery under the guidance of the Malaysia NTD support group. Improvement was scored and observed using KUB (Kidneys, Ureters and Bladder) ultrasound surveillance before untethering and continued thereafter. Spina bifida individuals may procure healthy bladder and bowel continence for the rest of their lives provided that neurosurgical and urological treatments were sought soon after birth and continues into adulthood.

Transition of Care of the Spina Bifida Patient from Childhood to Adulthood

Spina bifida is a complex disease process, the care of which involves multiple physicians and other healthcare providers in several disciplines. As our treatment of this disorder has improved over time, thus has survival of these patients into adulthood. Consideration in the care of young adults and adults with spina bifida poses significant challenges that parallel many other disease processes of childhood where medical advances have improved survival. We attempt to discuss the complex disorder that is spina bifida and some of the challenges associated with transition of care of these patients into adulthood.

Bladder Volume Assessment in Pediatric Patients With Neurogenic Bladder: Is Ultrasound an Accurate Method?

OBJECTIVE

To define the accuracy of ultrasound to determine bladder volume in pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder (NB).

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of children with NB in treatment with urethral clean intermittent catheterization.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

bladder surgeries, and catheterization through a channel different than urethra. Bladder volume was measured with ultrasound using the formula: anteroposterior bladder diameter by side to side diameter by distance from dome to outlet tract by 0.523 (cm³). In the same act, the patient was performed urethral catheterization and the drained volume was measured in millimeters. Finally, postvoid residual volume (PVR) was assessed with ultrasound.

RESULTS

We performed 318 measurements in 299 patients, mean age was 9.95 years (standard deviation: 4.6), 59% were female. Most frequent etiologies of NB were myelomeningocele and lipomyelomeningocele. Mean ultrasound-determined bladder volume was 213.9cm3 (range: 20-899 cm³) and mean bladder volume drain through catheterization was 336.4 mL (range: 30-1480 mL; P : .0001). In 67.3% of the patients (n: 214) PVR was not significant, and their mean ultrasound volume was 212.7 mL and the volume evacuated by catheterization was 339.9 mL (P : .0001). In all age groups ultrasound-determined bladder volume was statistically lower than catheterized bladder volume (P : .0001). The mean percentage error of the ultrasound-determined bladder volume was 15.58% ± 44.09. Linear regression analysis and Bland-Altman plot showed low agreement between both measurement techniques.

CONCLUSION

In children with NB, ultrasound-determined bladder volume was statistically lower than catheterized bladder volume measured at the same moment, and this relation persisted regardless of sex, age, and the presence of PVR.

Evaluation and Long-term Management of Neurogenic Bladder in Spinal Dysraphism

Spinal dysraphism, which includes conditions such as myelomeningocele and sacral agenesis, is one of the most common causes of congenital lower urinary tract dysfunction. Early evaluation of the neurogenic bladder serves to minimize renal damage, and the main goals of management include preserving renal function, achieving acceptable continence, and optimizing quality of life. The survival of patients with such conditions has improved to greater than 80% reaching adulthood, owing to advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. The result is a real, and unfortunately often unmet, need for successful transitional care in this complex patient population. Clinicians must be able to identify the unique challenges encountered by patients with neurogenic bladder as they shift through different stages of their life.

Clinical outcomes of non-surgical management of detrusor leak point pressures above 40 cm water in adults with congenital neurogenic bladder

AIMS

Neurogenic bladders (NGB) with detrusor leak point pressures >40 cm H₂ O (dLPP > 40) have been associated with deterioration of renal function in children with myelomeningocele. For these children, careful pressure management preserves renal function. However, similar evidence is lacking in adult congenital urology (ACU) patients with NGB. We describe renal functional outcomes of non-surgical management of adults with dLPP > 40 or premicturition detrusor pressure (PMDP) >40 cm H₂ O, consisting of close follow-up with urodynamic studies (UDS) and renal ultrasound (RUS), paired with adjustments to clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) frequency, anticholinergics, and addition of onabotulinumtoxinA toxin (BTX) injection.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the UDS of all patients at an ACU clinic from 2011 to 2016. Patients with dLPP/PMDP > 40 cm who elected for non-surgical management were included. We describe their management and renal functional outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 33/42 patients with dLPP/PMDP > 40 elected for non-surgical management. 28/33 (85%) were successfully managed without bladder augmentation or urinary diversion at follow-up of nearly 3 years. The median index dLPP/PMDP was 49 cm H₂ O (IQR 44, 63) and final dLPP/PMDP was 28 (IQR 18, 43). There was a significant decrease in dLPP/PMDP and increase in bladder compliance between index and final UDS (P < 0.001). No patients advanced their CKD stage and 6/10 with baseline hydronephrosis had improvement or resolution of hydronephrosis with non-surgical management.

CONCLUSIONS

A non-surgical protocol for ACU patients with NGB and dLPP/PMDP > 40, utilizing CIC, anticholinergics, and BTX is safe and effective when coupled with coordinated care and close follow-up.