A neosphincter for continent urinary catheterizable channels made from rectus abdominal muscle (Yachia principle): Preliminary clinical experience in children

PurposeWe investigated continence outcomes for patients undergoing primary or redo reconstruction of a urinary catheterizable reservoir involving the Yachia technique of intersecting two rectus abdominis strips over the outlet channel.Materials and methodsA retrospective evaluation of 22 consecutive patients operated from March 2009 to August 2010 was performed, consisting of 16 primary reconstructions (Macedo catheterizable ileal reservoirs) and 6 rescue cases for leaking stomas. Our data comprised 18 spina bifida patients, 1 sacral agenesis, 1 posterior urethral valves and 1 genitourinary tuberculosis. Mean age at surgery was 8.5 years (3–21 years). We evaluated continence at 3, 6, 12 months, and at the last follow-up based on data from urinary charts.ResultsMean follow-up was 21.1 months (12–29 months). Overall continence was 100% for the primary cases and 66% for the redos (2/6 failed). Three patients had initial difficulty in performing clean intermittent catheterization but this resolved with time and experience.ConclusionUsing Yachia's technique has improved the continence rate of our catheterizable reservoirs and was partially successful for suprafascial revision of incontinent conduits.