The use of demucosalized bowel to augment small contracted bladders

Outcomes of seromuscular bladder augmentation compared with standard bladder augmentation in the treatment of children with neurogenic bladder

BACKGROUND

Intestinal seromuscular bladder augmentation (SMBA) surgery has produced no mucosal-related complications, but its outcomes need to be studied.

AIM

To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of SMBA in the treatment of children with neurogenic bladder.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the clinical data of children with SMBA was performed from March 2008 to February 2018, and the data were compared with those of children receiving standard cystoplasty (SC).

RESULTS

In a cohort of 67 children who underwent bladder augmentation, the 46 children in the SC group had an average age of 10.6 years and a follow-up time of 36 mo, and the 21 children in the SMBA group had an average age of 7.6 years and a follow-up time of 29.7 mo. The preoperative and postoperative bladder volumes in the SMBA group were 151.7 mL and 200.4 mL, respectively, and those in the SC group were 173.9 mL and 387.0 mL, respectively. No significant difference in preoperative urinary dynamic parameters was found between the two groups, but the difference after operation was statistically significant. The main complications after SMBA were residual ureteral reflux and failed bladder augmentation, with incidences of 33.3% and 28.6%, respectively. In all 6 patients with failed augmentation in the SMBA group, ileum seromuscular patches were used for augmentation, and SC was chosen for reaugmentation. During reoperation, patch contracture and fibrosis were observed.

CONCLUSION

The improvement of urinary dynamic parameters in the SMBA group was significantly lower than that in the SC group. Children with SMBA had a higher probability of patch contracture and reaugmentation, which might be related to impaired blood supply and urine stimulation, and the sigmoid colon patch should be the priority.

Neurogenic bladder in spinal cord injury patients

Neurogenic bladder dysfunction due to spinal cord injury poses a significant threat to the well-being of patients. Incontinence, renal impairment, urinary tract infection, stones, and poor quality of life are some complications of this condition. The majority of patients will require management to ensure low pressure reservoir function of the bladder, complete emptying, and dryness. Management typically begins with anticholinergic medications and clean intermittent catheterization. Patients who fail this treatment because of inefficacy or intolerability are candidates for a spectrum of more invasive procedures. Endoscopic managements to relieve the bladder outlet resistance include sphincterotomy, botulinum toxin injection, and stent insertion. In contrast, patients with incompetent sphincters are candidates for transobturator tape insertion, sling surgery, or artificial sphincter implantation. Coordinated bladder emptying is possible with neuromodulation in selected patients. Bladder augmentation, usually with an intestinal segment, and urinary diversion are the last resort. Tissue engineering is promising in experimental settings; however, its role in clinical bladder management is still evolving. In this review, we summarize the current literature pertaining to the pathology and management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury.

The evolution of bladder augmentation: from creating a reservoir to reconstituting an organ

Bladder augmentation was first described in 1899. The goal at the time was to establish the ideal method to create a simple capacious reservoir for the safe storage of urine. That simple idea has over the last 100 years grown into one of the most dynamic areas in Pediatric Urology. Creative minds and hands from individuals in multiple disciplines have led us from creating a reservoir to the threshold of recreating a functional organ. In this review, we look at the historical evolution of bladder augmentation and how it exponentially grew in scope from those initial descriptions of intestinocystoplasty to the work being reported today in the field of tissue engineering.

Alternatives to conventional enterocystoplasty in children: a critical review of urodynamic outcomes

Alternatives to conventional enterocystoplasty have been developed in order to avoid the most common complications derived from contact of the urine with intestinal mucosa. In this article critically we review the literature on the topics: ureterocystoplasty, detrusorectomy, detrusorotomy, seromuscular gastroenterocystoplasty, use of off the shelf biomaterials, and bladder augmentation by bioengineering. Recognizing the difficulty of deciding when a child with a history of posterior urethral valves requires and augmentation and that the development of a large megaureter in cases of neurogenic dysfunction represents a failure of initial treatment, we conclude that ureterocystoplasty can be useful in selected cases when a large dilated ureter is available. Seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium (SCLU) has been urodynamically effective in several series when the outlet resistance is high and no additional intravesical procedures are necessary. Seromuscular gastrocystoplasty lined with urothelium seems to offer no distinct advantages and involves a much more involved operation. The use of seromuscular segments without urothelial preservation, with or without the use of an intravesical balloon has been reported as successful in two centers but strict urodynamic evidence of its effectiveness is lacking. The published evidence argues strongly against the use of detrusorectomy or detrusorotomy alone because of the lack of significant urodynamic benefits. Two recent reports discourage the use of small intestinal submucosa patches because of a high failure rate. Finally, research into the development of a bioengineered bladder constructed with cell harvested from the same patient continues but is fraught with technical and conceptual problems. In conclusion of the methods reviewed, only ureterocystoplasty and SCLU have been proven urodynamically effective and reproducible.

Total bladder replacement with de-epithelialized ileum. Experimental study in dogs

OBJECTIVE

To assess the value of the silicone modeler in preventing graft retraction in dogs undergoing bladder replacement with de-epithelialized ileum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twelve female dogs underwent total cystectomy and bladder replacement by neobladder made of demucosalized ileal segment, comparing the group with modeler (group I) and the group without modeler (group II). Cystometry data, graft epithelization and radiological assessment (cystography and excretory urography) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Neobladder capacity, at 2 months, ranged from 50 to 250 mL (mean 191 mL) and from 5 to 60 mL (mean 22 mL) and at 6 months, from 60 to 270 mL (mean 202.5 mL) and from 5 to 75 mL (mean- 30.5 mL), respectively in groups I and II, with a statistically significant difference between groups. After 30 days, postoperatively the presence of transitional epithelium was observed in all fragments obtained by biopsy.

CONCLUSION

The use of the intravesical silicone modeler prevented the retraction of the neobladder of de-epithelialized ileum.

NONSECRETORY INTESTINOCYSTOPLASTY: A 10-YEAR EXPERIENCE

PURPOSE

We present long-term results on the use of demucosalized intestine for reconstructive surgery of the bladder.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 129 bladder augmentations with demucosalized intestine were performed in 123 patients (55% males and 45% females) 3 months to 53 years old during the last 10 years. Of the patients 82 presented with neurogenic bladder, 40 with bladder exstrophy, 3 each with tuberculosis and posterior urethral valves, and 1 with female hypospadias. Sigmoid was used in 104 cases and ileum in 25. In 105 cases a silicone balloon was left inside the augmented bladder for 2 weeks. In the remaining cases bladder mucosa was preserved and no mold was used. A silicone inflatable bladder neck cuff was implanted at the same time as augmentation in 32 patients.

RESULTS

Followup ranged from 3 to 135 months (median 51.0). There was a 329% increase in bladder capacity and compliance increased 7-fold. There were 13 (10.1%) cases considered failures, which were treated with reaugmentation using demucosalized ileum (6), different forms of augmentation (5) and no reaugmentation (2). There was no mucus formation, bladder perforation or neoplasia.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on our study we conclude that demucosalized intestine is a safe alternative for bladder augmentation and can be used for the same indications as total bowel segments.

Strategies in urological reconstruction in myelomeningocele

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper reviews recent advances in the strategies for urinary tract reconstruction in children with spina bifida. The aims of reconstruction are the preservation of renal function and achievement of urinary continence. Considerable controversy exists on the subjects of bladder augmentation, procedures to increase outlet resistance, and continent stomas. The authors put the most recently published information in perspective in the light of their own personal experience.

RECENT FINDINGS

Thirty-seven papers covering the above-mentioned subjects published in the past 5 years (25 of them published since 2000) have been selected. Seven relevant older references are included. There is persistent interest in developing methods to enlarge the urinary bladder that avoid bringing the urine in contact with the intestinal mucosa. The artificial urinary sphincter and fascial slings are the most frequently reported methods to increase outlet resistance. The Mitrofanoff principle continues to be regarded as an effective method to construct a continent catheterizable channel, either with the appendix or reconfigured intestinal segments. The achievement of fecal continence has to be pursued in parallel with urinary continence. Incontinent diversions continue to be best for a small group of patients. The role of continent urinary diversion requires reassessment.

SUMMARY

Progress in this area continues to be made. Periodic, critical and objective reviews on the subject should help the practitioner to arrive at sound decisions.

Experience with demucosalized ileum for bladder augmentation

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of demucosalized ileum for bladder augmentation, following the same principles previously used with the sigmoid colon.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Eleven patients with bladder exstrophy or a neurogenic bladder had their bladders augmented with demucosalized ileum instead of the sigmoid colon, but following the same technique. The use of a Foley catheter with an inflated balloon greatly facilitated the dissection of the mucosa from the muscle. A silicone model, inserted in the bladder, was used to avoid shrinkage of the patch. An animal model was also used for total bladder replacement following the same principle.

RESULTS

The mean (range) follow-up was 15.4 (2-25) months. There was a significant increase in bladder compliance in all patients. A bladder of good shape and compliance was obtained in the animal model, with epithelial growth detected in all cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Demucosalized ileum can be used safely for bladder augmentation in the same way as with the sigmoid colon. The distension of the isolated patch greatly facilitates dissection between the mucosa and muscle. The animal model supported this method of bladder replacement.

Further experience with seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium

PURPOSE

We report our continuing experience with seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium. This procedure is designed to preserve the urothelium and potentially decrease the incidence of complications associated with standard bladder augmentation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 32 patients who underwent seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium between April 1994 and July 1999. Data were collected on patient demographics, surgical indications, previous and adjunctive surgical procedures, preoperative and postoperative urinary continence, upper urinary tract changes, urodynamic parameters, surgical complications and histological findings.

RESULTS

Mean patient age at surgery plus or minus standard deviation was 11.1 +/- 4.8 years. Mean followup was 1.6 +/- 1 years. A mean of 1.5 +/- 0.9 years postoperatively urodynamic studies available in 28 cases showed that total and safe bladder capacity increased by 1.8 and 2.4-fold, respectively. Continence was achieved in 71% of patients after the initial procedure, increasing to 81% after secondary procedures. Hourglass deformity developed in 7 cases (22%), augmentation failed in 4 (12.5%) and there were bladder calculi in 2 (6%). New onset or increased hydronephrosis and reflux were present in 6 of 62 (10%) and 9 of 60 (15%) evaluated renal units, respectively. Of the 7 interpretable biopsies 5 revealed various degrees of repeat colonic mucosal growth. There was no bladder perforation or metabolic abnormalities, and mucous production was not clinically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium is a viable alternative to standard bladder augmentation. The 2 procedures have a similar overall complication rate. Comparatively there appears to be a low incidence of bladder calculi, mucous production has not been clinically significant, metabolic disturbances have not developed and perforation has not occurred during short-term followup. We are enthusiastic about this technique and continue to apply it in select patients.