Bladder Re-augmentation in Classic Bladder Exstrophy: Risk Factors and Prevention

Long term outcomes in classic bladder exstrophy - The adult picture

With continued improvements in medical care and surgical reconstruction, more patients with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) are living into adulthood, than ever before. With improved survival, a greater emphasis on adult issues and improving quality of life (QOL) for these individuals is of increasing importance. This review aims to summarize data on long-term considerations for the adult with exstrophy and to highlight areas of future research and collaboration. Key conclusions are that continence or dryness are achievable alongside the ability to enjoy sexual relationships and a good quality of life.

Additional surgery in patients with bladder augmentation

INTRODUCTION

Bladder augmentation is an option to protect kidneys and treat incontinence in frequent neurogenic and congenital non-neurogenic disorders. However, patients may need also other procedures to treat incontinence or to aid catheterizations. In addition, the patients are prone to complications.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate complications or additional surgeries in augmentation cystoplasty according to the etiology of the bladder dysfunction.

STUDY DESIGN

Data on additional surgical procedures related to bladder augmentation were collected from 128 patients who had undergone enterocystoplasty between 1990 and 2019, with a median age of 10.1 years (IQR 7.2-12.8) and a follow-up time of 11.8 years (IQR 5.7-18.6) after augmentation.

RESULTS

Eighty-three patients had a neurogenic disease, and 45 patients had a non-neurogenic disease. Bladder neck operations were performed either at the time of or after augmentation for 62 patients (48.4%), more commonly in the non-neurogenic than neurogenic group <0.01. In addition, continent stoma operations in 56 (36.8%) patients were more common in the non-neurogenic group (p < 0.01). Ten patients received kidney transplantation (four in the neurogenic, six in the non-neurogenic group); seven of these patients originally had dysplastic kidneys, two developed nephrological kidney disease, and one had hydronephrosis and renal insufficiency at the time of diagnosis of neurogenic bladder. Surgical problems resulting from bladder augmentation were treated in 28 patients (21.8%). The risk for surgical treatment because of complications was 4%, 17%, 24%, 27% and 27% at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 years follow up respectively. Complications were more common in patients in non-neurogenic than in patients with neurogenic group (p < 0.01). However, the greater proportion of continent stomas in non-neurogenic group explained the difference (Fig.). The most frequent complication requiring surgery during follow-up was bladder stones, which occurred in 24 (18.8%) patients. The first stone was treated at a median of 3.3 years (range 0.3-14.2) after augmentation. Stones were more common in patients with a continent stoma than without (p < 0.01). Other indications for surgical treatment were as follows: obstructive ileus in five patients, reduced bladder capacity in three patients, bladder perforation in two patients and lobulated bladder with infections in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk for surgical treatment was about 27% in 20-year follow-up after bladder augmentation, because of augmentation related complications. The most prevalent complication was bladder stone, that was mainly associated with continent stomas. Continent stomas were most prevalent in patients with non-neurogenic diagnosis.

An evaluation of perioperative surgical procedures and complications in classic bladder exstrophy patients Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P)

INTRODUCTION

Classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) repair report wide variation in success. Given the complexity of CBE care, benefit would be derived from validation of reported outcomes. Using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric (NSQIP-P) data, this manuscript evaluates surgical complications for bladder closure and advanced urologic reconstruction in CBE patients.

AIM

The primary aim of this study was to determine complication rates in the CBE population for bladder closure and advanced urologic reconstruction in national studies compared to single-institutional studies.

STUDY DESIGN

Pediatric cases and complications were identified in the 2012-2019 NSQIP-P database in CBE patients who had either bladder closure or advanced urologic reconstruction. Bladder closure was further defined as early (<7 days) or delayed (>7 days). Differences were assessed using Fisher's exact test and analysis was conducted using SPSS with significance defined as p-value <0.05.

RESULTS

302 patients were included; 152 patients underwent bladder closure, and 150 patients underwent advanced urologic reconstruction. The 30-day complication rate for bladder closure is 30.3% and for advanced urologic reconstruction is 24.0% in the CBC cohort. No differences were found in the rates of NSQIP complications between early and delayed bladder closure, though significant differences (p < 0.001) were found in the rates of blood transfusion (17.9 vs 65.3%). This may be due to the different rates of osteotomy (25.0 vs 48.3%) between early and delayed bladder closure. Rates of readmission are 14.7% and rates of reoperation are 8.0% for advanced urologic reconstruction procedures. Both bladder closure and advanced urologic reconstruction had infectious issues in greater than 10% of the population.

DISCUSSION

CBE surgeries nationally carry a higher risk of complications than is reported in most institutional studies. Infectious complications occur greater than 10% of the time in both bladder closure and advanced urologic reconstruction, which should be the source of additional study given the inverse relationship infections pose to surgical success in BE patients. A limitation of this study is that the data is derived from Children's hospitals that elect to participate and includes only data from 30 days after a procedure.

CONCLUSION

CBE complication data for both bladder closure and advanced urologic reconstruction may be underrepresented in the literature.

Efficacy of complete laparoscopic ileal augmentation cystoplasty for the treatment of low bladder capacity and compliance: a case series

Objectives

To investigate the safety and efficacy of complete laparoscopic ileal augmentation cystoplasty for the treatment of low bladder capacity and compliance.

Methods

The clinical data of 13 patients with low bladder capacity and compliance were retrospectively analyzed. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated at follow-up. The Clavien system was used to evaluate the severity of postoperative complications.

Results

All 13 operations were successfully completed laparoscopically. The operation duration was 140–248 min (average: 189.9 ± 29.6 min), the time to postoperative recovery of bowel function was 1–10 days (average: 2.9 ± 2.3 days). There were 4 cases of grade I complications and 1 case of grade II complications (i.e., paralytic ileus caused by urinary leakage from the anastomosis of the augmented bladder). Cystography showed that the morphology of the bladder was close to normal, and the maximum safe capacity and compliance of the bladder were significantly increased [103.8 ± 16.6 mL and 332.3 ± 20.5 mL, p < 0.01; 7.0 ± 1.3 mL/cm H₂O and 32.4 ± 2.1 mL/cm H₂O, p < 0.01]. All patients were able to urinate spontaneously after catheter removal.

Conclusions

Complete laparoscopic ileal augmentation cystoplasty is a safe and feasible treatment for low bladder capacity and compliance, and has the advantages of less trauma, less bleeding, faster recovery of intestinal function, and fewer postoperative complications. This treatment effectively increases bladder capacity, protects upper urinary tract function, and improves patient quality of life, and thus warrants clinical application.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12894-022-01008-5.

Case - Persistent vesico-cutaneous fistula in an "hour-glass" deformity ileocystoplasty: Successful repair using abdominal wall perforator flaps

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Opportunities for augmentation cystoplasty revision without additional bowel harvest: "Hourglass" deformity or non-detubularized augment

INTRODUCTION

We describe our experience performing bladder augmentation revision without additional bowel harvest for certain suboptimal cystoplasty configurations.

METHODS

We identified patients with prior bladder augmentation who underwent augmentation revision without additional bowel harvest at our institution. These patients were identified to have either "hourglass" deformity or non-detubularized augment previously. Revision was performed using an open technique by detaching the prior augment and performing detubularization and/or completion cystotomy as needed. Baseline characteristics, perioperative courses, and followup information were reviewed. Preand postoperative cystography and urodynamics were assessed.

RESULTS

Seven patients underwent bladder augmentation revision without the use of additional bowel. Three patients were found to have a non-detubularized augment, while the other four had a narrow connection from the native bladder to augment. Cystography demonstrated correction of "hourglass" deformity for the four patients, and urodynamics revealed resolution of phasic contractions after detubularization. Six of seven patients reported significant improvements in symptoms, such as frequency, urgency, and incontinence. One patient ultimately required Indiana pouch urinary diversion. All patients are performing intermittent catheterization at last followup.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with a prior bladder augmentation with inadequate urine storage should have testing to identify the possibility of a non-detubularized augment or "hourglass" deformity. These patients can be safely offered a revision without the need for additional bowel harvest.