Urinary control after the definitive reconstruction of cloacal anomaly

A prospective cohort study of assisted bladder emptying following primary cloacal repair: The Children's National experience

INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

Although the combination of bladder dysfunction and upper tract anomalies puts patient with cloaca at risk for renal disease, the rarity of this condition makes it difficult to study empirically. As a high-volume center, we uniquely capture bladder function outcomes following our growing number of cloacal repairs.

OBJECTIVE

1) Describe the rates of incomplete bladder emptying following primary cloacal repair (at 2-3 months after repair and last follow up), and 2) identify clinical factors associated with assisted bladder emptying.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a prospective cohort study of patients undergoing primary cloaca repair by our Children's National Colorectal Center team between 2020 and 2021. The primary outcome was assisted bladder emptying at 2-3 months postoperatively and last visit. Covariables included preoperative characteristics (cloacagram measurements), ARM complexity (moderate = common channel [CC] <3-cm, severe = CC ≥ 3-cm), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) status, sacral ratio (good ≥0.7, intermediate 0.7-0.4, poor ≤0.4), spinal cord status, means of preoperative bladder emptying, and operative details (age at repair, repair type, & concomitant laparotomy).

RESULTS

Eighteen participants were eligible. A majority had moderate cloaca (78%), VUR (67%), spinal cord abnormalities (89%), and good sacral ratios (56%). Preoperatively, 10 patients were diapered for urine and 8 had assisted bladder emptying. Surgical repairs were performed at a median age of 8 months (range 4-46). Nine (50%) patients underwent urogenital separation (UGS), eight (44%) total urogenital mobilization, and 1 (6%) perineal sparing posterior sagittal anorectoplasty with introitoplasty. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in 7 (39%) patients. At 2-3 months, 7 patients were voiding and 11 required assisted bladder emptying. Median length of long-term follow up was 12 months (range 5-25), and 8 patients were voiding and 10 required assisted bladder emptying. Postoperative need for assisted bladder emptying was significantly associated with assisted bladder emptying preoperatively, a shorter urethra and increasing common channel length, UGS and exploratory laparotomy. Spinal cord imaging findings were not associated.

DISCUSSION

Bladder emptying following cloaca repair is likely a result of congenital function and surgical effects. Indeed, increasingly cloaca complexity requiring UGS and laparotomy was associated with both pre- and post-operative assisted bladder emptying. The lack of association with spinal cord imaging may reflect a divergence between anatomy and function.

CONCLUSION

Approximately half of patients required assisted bladder emptying in this study. Associated factors included urethral and common channel length, the need for assisted bladder emptying preoperatively, the type of surgical approach and additional laparotomy. Being diapered with seemingly normal voiding prior to surgery did not guarantee normal bladder function postoperatively.

Management of the urological tract in children with anorectal malformations - a contemporary review

Anorectal malformations (ARMs) consist of a broad spectrum of congenital anomalies that are associated with an equally wide variety of urological abnormalities, often with increasing incidence as the severity of the ARM increases. The importance of urologic involvement in the care of ARM patients has been noted for decades and is critical from birth to adulthood. Urology must be involved in the initial evaluation and operative care of the child as well as in monitoring and managing issues such as neurogenic bladder, renal disease, and eventually sexual function and fertility. Care of the ARM patient must be done through a multidisciplinary lens, with the urologist as a key player. This review will serve as an update on the management of the urologic tract in children with ARM.

Urogenital Management in Cloaca: An Alternative Approach

Introduction:

In the management of cloaca, there is concern that dissection of the urogenital sinus in early childhood with the aim of total anatomical correction is hazardous. Avoiding such mobilization and providing mitrofanoff channel, when needed, till peripubertal period reduces complications and is technically easier.

Materials and Methods:

Forty-three cases of cloaca were managed in the period 2004–2016. Case records and radiology were reviewed retrospectively. The follow-up evaluation was done by looking into voiding history, bowel movements, and menstruation history.

Results:

There were three groups of children, namely, those with no reconstruction done elsewhere except a diverting fecal stoma (Group I, n = 25), those who had undergone anorectal correction elsewhere with no attempt at urogenital reconstruction (Group IIA, n = 13), and those with attempted bowel and genitourinary reconstruction elsewhere (Group IIB, n = 5). The Group I children (one still awaiting reconstruction) underwent early rectal reconstruction followed by expectant management of the urogenital apparatus. The 18 referred cases had multiple problems, chiefly urogenital, of congenital or iatrogenic origin. While urinary reconstruction included bladder augmentation, ileal neobladder, bladder neck closure, and ureteric reimplantation, the foundation of urinary management was intermittent catheterization through mitrofanoff stoma and the avoidance of any dissection of the cloacal common channel. Surgery on the genital tracts included drainage of hydrocolpos, perineal surgery for low vaginae and abdominoperineal vaginoplasty for high vaginae in the peripubertal period with or without bowel supplementation. Spontaneous voiding was maintained in 17 of 25 (68%) Group I girls (including one death later from intestinal complications), 7 of 13 (54%), Group IIA girls, and 1 of 5 (20%) Group IIB girls. Painless menstruation was noted in eight postpubertal girls, three through the cloacal channel (awaiting reconstruction) and five through the reconstructed vagina. Most of the children are on a bowel management program for fecal cleanliness with washouts through the neoanus or Malone's stoma.

Conclusion:

We report a nonconventional approach to cloaca based on avoiding dissection of or around the common channel for urethrovaginal reconstruction, opting for mitrofanoff stoma for intermittent catheterization, when needed, and late vaginal reconstruction. We believe this approach has reduced the overall need for intermittent catheterization.

Long-term urological outcomes in cloacal anomalies

Cloacal anomalies are the most complex and severe form of congenital anorectal malformations (ARM) and urogenital malformations, and it has been well documented that increased severity of ARM leads to worse outcomes. While short-term data on persistent cloaca are available, a paucity of data on long-term outcomes exists, largely because of a lack of uniform terminology, inclusion with other ARM and evolution of the operative technique. On comprehensive review of the published literature on long-term urological outcomes in patients with cloacal anomalies, we found a significant risk of chronic kidney disease and incontinence, however, with improvements in surgical technique, outcomes have improved. Continence often requires intermittent catheterization and in some cases, bladder augmentation. The complexity of cloacal malformations and associated anomalies make long-term multidisciplinary follow-up imperative.

Long-term renal function and continence status in patients with cloacal malformation

INTRODUCTION

Urinary continence after cloacal repair is difficult to achieve and renal outcome in patients with cloacal malformations has been scarcely reported. As a result, we reviewed our experience with cloacal malformations to determine the status of continence and the long-term renal function in these children.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review from 1990 to 2003 identified 12 patients with cloacal malformation (1 posterior, 4 complex and 7 classical) who underwent surgical reconstruction. The confluence was defined as high (common channel >/= 3 cm) and low (< 3 cm) by cystovaginoscopy. Renal ultrasound, voiding cystouretrogram, renal scan and sacral radiograph were performed in all children. Most patients underwent 1-stage abdominoperineal pull-through, applying the principle of total urogenital sinus mobilization. We collected data regarding hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux and split differential renal function. Renal outcome was evaluated based on glomerular filtration rate and age-adjusted serum creatinine values (mumol/L). Urinary continence was defined as a dry interval > 4 hours.

RESULTS

Patients' mean age at surgery was 20 months (range 7-29 mo). Of the 12 children who underwent cloacal repair, 7 (58.3%) had a common channel >/= 3cm. Renal anomalies were identified in 3 of 12 (25%) girls: there were 2 solitary kidneys and 1 pelvic kidney. Lumbar-sacral radiography demonstrated bony abnormalities in 11 of the 12 (91.6%) cases: hemivertebra in 3 cases, sacral agenesis in 4 cases, hypoplastic sacrum in 3 cases and bifid sacrum in 1 case. Total urogenital sinus mobilization through an abdominoperineal approach in a single stage was performed in 8 girls. Follow-up ranged from 4 to 14 years (mean 8.5 yr). Eight (66.6%) children had dry intervals > 4 hours, 5 (62.5%) of them were on clean intermittent catheterization through a Mitrofanoff channel and 1 (12.5%) was through the urethra. The remaining 2 (25%) patients were voiding spontaneously. Three (33.3%) patients were totally incontinent, and 1 (8.3%) patient was awaiting reconstruction. The mean measured glomerular filtration rate was 93.5 mL/min/1.73m(2) (range 34-152 mL/min/1.73m(2)). Four (57.1%) of 7 patients who had a common channel >/= 3 cm ended up needing augmentation cystoplasty, compared with none of the patients with a common channel < 3 cm (57.1% v. 0%, p = 0.038).

CONCLUSION

Urinary continence can be achieved in most patients with cloacal malformation at the expense of major reconstructive surgery and despite the presence of associated urological abnormalities. However, these children harbour an important risk for renal impairment later in life and should be closely monitored.

Advances in pediatric colorectal surgical techniques

The operative management of pediatric colorectal diseases has improved significantly in recent years through the development of innovative approaches for operative exposure and a better understanding of colorectal anatomy. Advances in transanal and minimal access techniques have formed the cornerstone of this innovation, leading to improved functional outcomes, earlier recovery, and superior cosmetic results for a number of colorectal diseases. In this regard, we have witnessed a significant evolution in the way that many of these conditions are managed, particularly in the areas of anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung disease. Furthermore, a more thorough understanding of the pathophysiology underlying encopresis and true fecal continence has led to novel and less invasive approaches to the operative management of these conditions. The goal of this review is to describe the evolution of operative management pertaining to these diseases, with an emphasis on technical aspects and relevant clinical pitfalls.