Primary repair of bladder exstrophy followed by clean intermittent catheterization: Outcome of 15 years’ experience

ObjectivesTo determine the continence and spontaneous voiding rate after neonatal reconstruction of bladder exstrophy without formal bladder neck reconstruction in patients undergoing primary reconstruction and treated with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) after closure.MethodsFrom 1987 to 2003, 15 consecutive patients (8 boys and 7 girls) with bladder exstrophy underwent neonatal reconstruction. Reconstruction focused on bringing the bladder neck and proximal urethra intra-abdominally and meticulously closing the pelvic floor muscles around the urethra. Three weeks postoperatively, CIC was started until toilet-training age. Bladder capacity, continence status, renal anatomy and function, and additional urologic surgical procedures during follow-up were analyzed.ResultsNine patients (60%) became socially continent after primary closure without any additional bladder neck surgery. Twelve patients (80%) were continent when those who underwent endoscopic bulking injection were included. One patient became socially continent after bladder neck reconstruction, and one was dry and used CIC after bladder neck reconstruction and ileocystoplasty. One patient remained incontinent because of the parents’ refusal of surgery. Ultimately, of 15 patients, 14 were dry (93%) of whom 10 were completely continent, 3 were partially continent (dry intervals of 1 to 3 hours), and 1 was dry by catheterizable stoma. The bladder capacity was adequate for age in 80% of patients. Febrile urinary tract infection occurred in 33% of patients, and 67% needed endoscopy for urethral stenosis. Upper tract dilation and loss of renal function was not seen.ConclusionsThe results of our study have shown that primary repair of bladder exstrophy followed by CIC has encouraging continence and bladder capacity rates, with preservation of the upper urinary tract and limited need for additional bladder neck surgery.