Quality of life: urinary bladder augmentation or substitution in children

Purpose  Bladder augmentation and substitution has been assumed to improve health-related quality of life in patients with urinary incontinence. This study was performed to elicit an evidence base for or against the above hypothesis. Methods  Between 1988 and 2006, 67 bladder augmentations and 7 bladder substitutions were performed at our institute. Inclusion criteria for the cross-sectional study were a postoperative period of more than 1 year and an age of at least 10 years at the time of operation. A multimodality treatment-specific questionnaire (comprising 38 questions) was designed and sent to 61 patients. Quality of life was investigated in all patients and between the groups of patients with meningomyelocele (Group A) versus bladder exstrophy (Group B), patients, who are catheterizing themselves via urethra (Group C) versus stoma (Group D) and patients who are using (Group E) versus not using wheelchair (Group F) following the surgery. For the statistical analysis Students t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test and correlation analysis were used. Results  A significant overall improvement was found in patients quality of life following this surgery (P < 0.05). Ninety percent of patients would prefer again bladder augmentation or substitution to their previous state. Patients with meningomyelocele are changing pads or diapers more frequently than exstrophy patients because of their bowel problems postoperatively. Quality of life improved better in patients performing CIC via stoma than in patients who perform it via their native urethra (P < 0.05). Outcomes were independent of patients age and of the post-augmentation time to assessment (P < 0.05). Conclusions  Bladder augmentation or substitution significantly improved the health-related quality of life in children and young adolescents taking part in the study. The authors are planning a prospective long-term follow-up of the patients (longitudinal study) to validate the results.     

A new technique of bladder enlargement and continent urinary diversion using the ceco-appendicular unit

 The authors developed a new technique using the cecum with in-situ appendix to simultaneously achieve bladder enlargement and continent urinary diversion (CUD) in five cases of neuropathic bladder or serious complications of abdominopelvic trauma. The cecoplasty provides a large-capacity, low-pressure reservoir; the submucosally-embedded appendix gives complete continence with 3 to 5 intermittent catheterizations daily. It is an alternative to the Mitrofanoff principle when bladder augmentation and CUD are necessary, and easier to achieve when faced with a neuropathic bladder where the thickness of the detrusor makes appendicular implantation difficult. Accepted: 24 August 2000     

Cultured urothelium in sheep bladder augmentation

In search of alternatives for urothelial-lined augmentation or reconstruction of the urinary bladder, this study combined the application of seromuscular gastrointestinal (GI) segments with the use of in-vitro cultured, autologous urothelial cells in a sheep model. A cell culture system was set up for establishment and expansion of urothelial cells out of small biopsies from bladder mucosa. A biodegradable carrier made of lactidcaprolactoncopolymer was introduced, allowing upside-down transplantation of cell cultures in vivo. Bladder mucosal biopsies were taken from 14 sheep (mean weight 13.3 kg) with an average yield of 3.5×10⁵ viable cells/cm² after trypsinization. Primary low-density cultures grew to confluence within 5–7 days. Secondary cultures were established on the biodegradable film and were available a week later. They were transplanted onto demucosalized segments of stomach (group 1) or colon (group 2) in 5 animals each, followed by bladder incorporation in clam fashion. The earliest specimens, demonstrating survival and some proliferation of the cultured urothelium in both groups, were obtained 13 days postoperatively. To exclude urothelial regrowth, a temporary pouch grafted with cultured urothelium was created in 2 more sheep of each group. Biopsies were taken after 2 and 3 weeks, respectively, when the reopened pouch was integrated into the bladder (delayed augmentation). In these pouches, adherence and proliferation of urothelial cells could not be demonstrated. Limited radiologic and urodynamic investigations after 5–6-month follow-up revealed good shape, capacity, and compliance of the primarily augmented bladders only. The results indicate that urothelial cell cultures can be established and applied in vivo. Despite upside-down transplantation, they are able to survive on seromuscular segments in an autologous setting. The bladder environment is necessary to promote complete covering of the seromuscular segments. Based on our histologic findings, the share of both resident bladder urothelium and transplanted cells in the formation of the final urothelial lining remains uncertain. Morphologic and urodynamic follow-up data indicate that this process can be accelerated by the transplanted urothelial cells, reducing fibrotic changes of the GI segments. The functional quality of the augmented bladder seemed to improve compared to results after seromuscular augmentation alone.     

Rapid construction of sigmoid bladder augmentation using absorbable staples: Long-term results and comparison to standard colocystoplasty in children with neurogenic bladder

ObjectiveAbsorbable staples facilitate detubularization and reconfiguration of the bowel when performing augmentation colocystoplasty. We compared the outcomes of stapled sigmoid augmentation with standard sutured colocystoplasty.Materials and methodsBetween 2003 and 2011, 108 children underwent bladder augmentation at our institution. Colocystoplasty was used in 30 patients (27.8%). Medical charts of children who underwent stapled (n = 8) or sutured (n = 22) sigmoid augmentation were compared with regard to patient demographics and surgical complications, including anastomotic leak and urolithiasis.ResultsEight children with underwent stapled sigmoid colocystoplasty. Average age at surgery was 8 years (range 4–17 years). Time to detubularize and refashion the bowel segment prior to augmentation was consistently under 5 min. Average length of follow-up was 44 months (range 12–80 months). One patient experienced anastomotic leak. Two of eight children (25%) in the stapled anastomosis cohort developed bladder stones. Twenty-two patients underwent standard sigmoid augmentation during the same time period (average age 8.2 years; range 4–16 years). One of 22 (4.5%) experienced anastomotic leak. Seven of 22 (31.8%) developed cystolithiasis.ConclusionsComplications from stapled sigmoid anastomosis are similar to those from standard colocystoplasty. Use of absorbable staples decreases operating time by avoiding bowel spatulation and suturing, and should be considered in pediatric patients undergoing colocystoplasty.     

Recto sigmoid bladder reservoir for patients with exstrophy: Three dimensional evaluation for outcome analysis

ObjectiveTo report the results of recto sigmoid bladder reservoir (RSBR), a variant of ureterosigmoidostomy (US) in patients with bladder exstrophy (BE) using a three dimensional evaluation system.Patients and methodsThis was a predominantly retrospective evaluation for all patients of BE undergoing RSBR who had completed minimum of 1 year follow-up. The patients were evaluated using a three dimensional system which included evaluation of urinary continence per rectally, status of upper tracts and health related quality of life (HRQOL).ResultsA total of 19 patients (four females) were evaluated. Mean age was 8.4 years, and mean duration of follow-up was 3.4 years. Mean age at RSBR was 5.1 years. Ten patients had good rectal continence. There was occasional minimal urine leak while passing flatus or on straining in nine. All patients had preserved renal function except one. The mean HRQOL score was 129.7 out of maximum of 150..ConclusionsRSBR gives marked improvement in quality of life in patients of BE. In the literature there is a non-uniformity in the results reporting outcome of US. The presented three dimensional assessment provides a comprehensive way to report the results in the short/long term. If used by other surgeons it would make comparison across centers feasible.     

Interim report in humans of a previously described technique in an animal model: closure of bladder exstrophy with rectus abdominis muscle flap

The aim of this study was to present the results of a new bladder closure and augmentation technique in children born with bladder exstrophy where primary surgical closure was impossible. The technique was performed in four children with small, noncompliant, inelastic bladders in which secondary changes such as squamous epithelial metaplasia and polypoid transformation had developed. During the opration, a full-thickness rectus abdominis muscle island flap with an intact neurovascular pedicle was prepared from the left abdominal quadrant and rotated to cover the bladder defect and aid in augmentation. The inner layer formed by peritoneum was sutured to the edges of the bladder defect. Postoperative endoscopic and histopathologic investigations revealed the inner, peritoneal layer of the flap to be completely covered by transitional urinary bladder epithelium. Considering the advantages of the technique from this limited experience, the evidence suggests that there is no need for a major gastrointestinal operation for bladder augmentation. A reasonable bladder capacity was available, there was no mucus production from the inner layer of the flap, and metabolic and electrolyte disturbances were reduced.     

Management of vesicoureteral reflux secondary to neurogenic bladder

The authors encountered 108 cases of vesicoureteral reflex (VUR) in 231 cases of neurogenic bladder complicating spina bifida. Bladder compliance and percent volume (% vol.) were measured pre- and postoperatively and the patients were divided into four groups retrospectively according to the treatment. Ninety-five percent of low-grade VUR (grades I and II) disappeared spontaneously with conservative therapy or after augmentation cystoplasty without antireflux surgery; 92% of high-grade VUR (grade III or more) required ureteral reimplantation with or without bladder augmentation. Reflux did not recur in any case of ureteral reimplantation with bladder augmentation, however, it did recur in 20.4% of the cases of simple ureteral reimplantation without bladder augmentation. Percent volume and bladder compliance in cases of recurrence following simple ureteral reimplantation were significantly lower than in the successful cases. This study suggests that low-grade VUR can resolve spontaneously with conservative therapy or with a suitable maneuver to improve bladder compliance. High-grade reflux in cases of preserved bladder volume (% vol.>75%) and compliance (>7 ml/cmH₂O) can be treated successfully with simple ureteral reimplantation, however, in cases of low volume (% vol.<60%) and low compliance (<4 ml/cmH₂O), reimplantation with bladder augmentation is recommended. Accepted: 6 January 1998     

组织工程技术在儿童下尿路重建修复中的若干问题

组织工程的发展日新月异,并且在儿童下尿路重建修复的临床前研究中取得了不错的成效。但临床前研究在向临床转化时效果都不太理想。临床转化失败的原因很多,其中最重要的一点是临床前研究常使用的是健康动物模型,从而不能准确模拟病态组织的结构和功能。针对当前组织工程向临床转化的困境,很多新的研究方案也应运而生,包括使用多种来源的干细胞,改善移植物血供,应用可控释放生长因子的新型支架,探究深层次的信号通路以及细胞间相互作用等,但单用其中一种方法很难在临床应用中获得成功。本文阐述组织工程技术在儿童下尿路重建修复中已取得的研究进展及当前面临的主要问题。     

Sigmoidocolocystoplasty for augmentation of iatrogenic small capacity bladder caused by direct injury to the bladder during inguinal hernia repair: long-term follow-up

Inguinal hernia repair is the most common operation performed in pediatric surgical practice. However, this procedure can be difficult, even in the most experienced hands, and result in complications, especially in small infants. Injury to the bladder is one of the known complications of inguinal herniotomy, especially in infants less than 6 months old. We report the long-term follow-up of a case having bladder injury during inguinal hernia repair at the age of 3 months and at the age of 10 underwent sigmoidocolocystoplasty for augmentation of a small, contracted bladder and high-grade vesicoureteric reflux caused by the bladder injury.     

Characteristics of the bladder in infants with urinary tract infections: an ultrasound study

BACKGROUND: Patients with urinary tract infection (UTI) are known to have impaired bladder function as demonstrated by urodynamic (UD) studies. UD is rarely performed in infants. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate bladder function in infants with UTI using a dynamic US protocol. Maximal bladder volume (MaxBV), residual volume (RV) and bladder wall thickness (BWT) were measured and compared with values from normal controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 57 consecutive infants (47 males, 10 females; mean age 0.48+/-0.30 years) with proven UTI, and 63 age-matched normal controls (37 males, 26 females; mean age 0.47+/-0.37 years) were recruited. MaxBV was determined just before voiding, and RV and BWT were measured after spontaneous voiding. RESULTS: Infants with UTI had smaller MaxBV (34.89 vs. 42.91 ml), larger RV (3.46 vs. 1.51 ml) and greater BWT (4.21 vs. 3.68 mm) than normal infants (P<0.05, Mann-Whitney test). CONCLUSION: Smaller bladder volume, larger residual volume and thicker bladder wall in infants with UTI can be explained by bladder instability, hypercontractility and infection-induced oedema of the bladder wall during UTI. The US measurement of bladder parameters might serve as an objective guide for clinical diagnosis and allow objective evaluation of bladder function during posttreatment follow-up.     

神经性膀胱的评价和治疗

目的评价不同严重程度神经性膀胱患儿的治疗方法和结果。方法 2013年4月至2014年1月我们收治神经性膀胱患儿15例,男7例,女8例,年龄1~13岁,均有脊膜膨出修补术病史。全部患儿行尿动力学检查、泌尿系超声和排泄性膀胱尿道造影。尿动力学检查显示9例合并逼尿肌压升高,12例合并膀胱容量减少,7例合并逼尿肌过度活动;泌尿系超声和排泄性膀胱尿道造影显示8例合并肾积水和输尿管扩张,7例合并输尿管反流。5例行手术治疗,其中1例行小肠膀胱扩大及输尿管抗反流术,2例行逼尿肌部分切除膀胱扩大术及输尿管抗反流术,1例行小肠膀胱扩大术,1例行输尿管抗反流术,术后配合清洁间歇导尿。其余10例行清洁间歇导尿,4例同时口服索利那新。结果2例小肠膀胱扩大术后膀胱容量明显增加,逼尿肌压明显下降,输尿管反流消失;2例逼尿肌部分切除膀胱扩大术者膀胱容量略有增加,逼尿肌压略有下降,仍存在输尿管反流。1例输尿管抗反流者反流消失。保守治疗患儿中,膀胱容量在正常容量的2/3以上且逼尿肌压较低的6例患儿中,2例尿失禁消失,2例失禁较前明显减轻,2例无改善;膀胱容量不足正常1/2,逼尿肌压较高的4例患儿中,尿失禁及输尿管反流无明显减轻;4例应用索立那新后逼尿肌过度活动明显减轻。结论尿动力学检查泌尿系超声和排泄性膀胱尿道造影是评价神经性膀胱的重要手段,神经性膀胱患儿要根据其评价结果采取个性化的治疗方案。