Intrathecal baclofen infusion in patients with spasticity and neurogenic bladder disease

Summary Nine severely spastic men suffering from neurogenic bladder disease secondary to spinal cord lesion or multiple sclerosis were treated with continuous intrathecal infusion of baclofen using an implanted programmable pump. Bladder function improved in all patients. Significant improvements consisted of an increase in bladder capacity, a decrease in residual volume and a diminution of pelvic floor spasms. Three patients became continent. Intermittent self-catheterization was no longer impeded by adductor spasms. In three cases complete bladder emptying could be achieved. Maximal bladder pressure decreased two subjects, whereas it increased in two others; however for the whole group the changes were not significant.     

Intrathecal baclofen infusion in patients with spasticity and neurogenic bladder disease

Summary Nine severely spastic men suffering from neurogenic bladder disease resulting from spinal cord lesion or multiple sclerosis were treated with continuous intrathecal infusion of baclofen using an implanted programmable pump. Bladder function improved in all patients; significant improvements consisted of an increase in bladder capacity, a decrease in residual volume, and diminished pelvic-floor spasm. Three subjects became continent. Intermittent self-catheterization was no longer impeded by adductor spasm. In three patients complete bladder emptying could be achieved. In two cases maximal bladder pressure diminished; in two others it increased, but for the whole group the changes were not significant.     

Antireflux in patients with neurogenic bladder.

The results of ureteral reimplantation in 8 neurogenic bladders with a high outflow resistance and severe trabeculation are presented. Operation was successful in all cases. The conditions for a successful intervention in these cases are: (1) previous or simultaneous treatment of the high outflow resistance: intermittent catheterization was found to be an excellent method for this purpose, and (2) the submucosal tunnel should be created preferably upon the trigone which is the only place free of trabeculation. High outflow resistance and severe trabeculation should no longer be considered as contraindications for antireflux surgery in the neurogenic bladder.     

Transurethral resection of bladder neck in female patients with neurogenic bladder

Transurethral resection of the bladder neck was performed in 6 female patients with neurogenic bladders who presented with a large volume of residual urine and bladder neck obstruction on voiding cystourethrography without detrusor hyperreflexia on cystometry. In 4 of the patients, transurethral sphincterotomy was performed concomitantly. Five of the patients demonstrated significant improvement in bladder emptying and 4 did not need self-catheterization. No complications of the operation were observed.     

Bladder epithelium is abnormal in patients with neurogenic bladder due to myelomeningocele

OBJECTIVE: To describe the urothelium of the neurogenic bladder in patients with myelomeningocele on clean intermittent catheterization. SETTING:Outpatient practice. METHODS: Samples of bladder wall obtained from two groups of patients were examined for urothelium. The first group included 12 children and young adults with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bladder on intermittent catheterization for bladder emptying. The second group included eight children with vesicoureteral reflux and non-neurogenic bladder. Nine patients from the first group and four patients from the second group had urothelium. A contiguous section of each of the 13 samples with urothelium was stained for uroplakin expression, a marker of superficial bladder urothelium by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Samples from children with reflux revealed normal bladder epithelium and a uniform layer of umbrella cells (95% CI: 0-60%). In contrast, the epithelium from all patients with myelomeningocele was abnormal (95% CI: 66-100%). Epithelium from five patients (four children, one adult) revealed chronic inflammation. Three patients (two children, one adult) had squamous metaplasia. The apical surface of the epithelium in all patients with chronic inflammation had some reactivity with anti-uroplakin antibody, but the cells staining positive for uroplakin were scattered along the lumenal surface of the epithelium. The apical surface of patients with squamous metaplasia was negative for uroplakin. CONCLUSION: The urothelium of the neurogenic bladder in young patients with myelomeningocele is abnormal, with loss of uroplakin expression and altered urothelial proliferation.     

Possible use of ultrasonically-estimated bladder weight in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction

In 25 patients with detrusor areflexia, ultrasonically-estimated bladder weight (UEBW) was compared with bladder capacity and compliance obtained by cystometry, and UEBW was also compared with grade of bladder deformity as evaluated by cystography. UEBW correlated significantly with compliance (P < 0.01) and degree of bladder deformity (P < 0.01). Taking a cutoff value of 40 g, UEBW revealed diagnostic accuracy as high as 96% and 80% for low-compliance (< 10 ml/cm H₂O) and high-grade deformity (grade II/III), respectively. UEBW could be a new urodynamic parameter capable of evaluating functional as well as morphological changes of the bladder. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Bladder augmentation in three patients with contracted bladder caused by neurogenic bladder

Three patients with contracted bladder caused by neurogenic bladder underwent ileocystoplasty. The primary diagnosis was meningomyelocele for all of them. The operative procedure adopted was Goodwin's Cup-patch method. All cases have obtained increased bladder capacity with improvement of bladder compliance and have been free from urinary incontinence. They were followed up by using clean intermittent self catheterization. Ileocystoplasty combined with clean intermittent self catheterization offers a successful method in patients with contracted bladder caused by neurogenic bladder.     

Transurethral electroincision of bladder neck in female patients with neurogenic bladder.

Transurethral electroincision of the bladder neck in female patients with neurogenic bladders has not been widely reported. We have performed this operation on 21 patients who have failed to achieve balanced bladder function through other treatment modalities and who have presented with recurrent urinary tract infections, high postvoid residual urine, and evidence of upper urinary tract deterioration. Eighty-five per cent of female patients treated in this fashion have demonstrated significant improvement in bladder emptying. The rate of complication has been low, and no cases of persistent incontinence have occurred. We recommend this operation in difficult cases of neurogenic bladder in females.     

E. coli virulence factors in children with neurogenic bladder associated with bacteriuria

The value of E. coli virulence factors in patients with neurogenic bladder has not been established. The aim of this study is to correlate E. coli virulence factors with asymptomatic and symptomatic UTI in children with neurogenic bladder. Fifty E. coli strains, which were collected in sequence, underwent analysis in relation to: the association to pyuria, serotype (O:H), the presence of genes and expression of fimbriae P, type 1, S and hemagglutinin Dr, the presence of the gene and production of hemolysins and cytotoxins (CNF1). We also analyzed the cell adherence capability and pattern and presence of usp (uropathogenic-specific protein). Pyuria was present in most of the positive urine cultures, with 86% AB and 97% UTI. Low rates of uropathogenic strains were observed in the two groups, with 18% AB and 21% UTI. Type 1 fimbria predominated in 44% of the E. coli strains. Of the bacteria studied, 30% (15 strains) exhibited papG genotypes (11 class II and 4 class III). Of these, 12/15 patients presented AB. Production of hemolysins was detected in 38% of the strains (16 AB and 3 UTI) and usp in only 18% of the strains, with 8 AB and 1 UTI. Adherence tests demonstrated the adhesive capacity in all samples analyzed. Neither group (AB or symptomatic UTI) presented a statistically significant difference in relation to the virulence factors studied. E. coli clones that caused symptomatic UTI in children with neurogenic bladder expressed few virulence factors, with no statistically significant difference in comparison to the AB group.     

Characterization of Escherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infections in patients with transposed intestinal segments

PURPOSE: Transposition of intestinal segments into the urinary tract predisposes to urinary tract infections. We characterized bacterial infections in these patients and examined the virulence genotype and persistence of Escherichia coli isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We followed 26 patients who underwent bladder reconstructive surgery using transposed intestinal segments. E. coli strains isolated from the urine of these patients were genotyped for established virulence determinants and the frequency of carriage was compared with E. coli strains isolated from community acquired urinary infections and the fecal flora of anonymous volunteers. A longitudinal study of E. coli strains in 9 patients was also done using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: E. coli was the most frequently isolated organism, responsible for 59% (62 of 105) of monobacterial infections. Other bacteria isolated included Klebsiella species, Proteus species and Enterococcus faecalis. Community acquired E. coli strains were more likely to carry multiple determinants for particular adhesins (P and S fimbriae) and toxins (alpha-hemolysin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor) than fecal strains. Carriage frequency for bladder reconstruction strains was intermediary and not significantly different. The key finding was that E. coli strains persisted for prolonged periods, including 2 years in certain patients, often despite various antimicrobial treatments. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that further steps must be taken to prevent and treat urinary tract infections in this susceptible group. Particular attention should be given to the treatment of persistent infections.     

Management of vesicoureteral reflux in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction

We studied 20 cases of neurogenic bladder with vesico-ureteral reflux retrospectively. Seven patients voided with Valsalva's maneuver and 12 patients were managed with clean intermittent catheterization, but one patient required permanent urinary diversion because of uncontrollable urinary tract infection. The patients were followed by intravenous pyelography, radioisotope renogram, voiding cystourethrography, determination of serum creatinine level and urodynamic study. Anti-reflux surgery was performed in 22 ureters and reflux resolved in 19 ureters. Among 12 ureters not treated by anti-reflux surgery, reflux disappeared in 5 ureters and improved in 2 ureters. Of 5 ureters, reflux resolved after clean intermittent catheterization in 2 ureters, and remained stable without recurrent infection or renal deterioration in the remaining 5 ureters. Regardless whether antireflux surgery was done or not, most of the patients who had high grade reflux and obstructive renal damage on radioisotope examinations had marked low compliance bladders. Our experience suggested the necessity of a suitable treatment to improve bladder compliance before considering anti-reflux surgery.     

Changing composition of renal calculi in patients with neurogenic bladder

PURPOSE: Renal calculi are a significant source of morbidity for patients with neurogenic bladder. Calculi from patients with NB have traditionally been composed primarily of struvite and carbonate apatite secondary to chronic urea-splitting bacteriuria. In the current era there have been great improvements in the urological rehabilitation of patients with NB. We defined the composition of renal calculi in a contemporary cohort of patients with NB due to spinal cord injury or myelomeningocele who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective evaluation of all patients with NB due to SCI or MM who underwent PNL between January 2002 and January 2005. RESULTS: A total of 32 patients with NB (14 with SCI, 18 with MM) underwent PNL in this period. Stones were infectious in etiology in 37.5% (12 struvite/carbonate apatite) and metabolic in 62.5% (1 uric acid, 2 calcium oxalate monohydrate, 2 brushite, 6 hydroxyapatite, 9 mixed hydroxyapatite/calcium oxalate). All patients with struvite calculi were infected with urea-splitting bacteria on preoperative urine culture. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with neurogenic bladder are traditionally thought to harbor infection related calculi. These data demonstrate that many contemporary patients will be found to have calculi of a metabolic etiology. Although patients with NB still have renal calculi, advances in urological treatment may have affected the composition of their calculi, as metabolic stones are becoming more commonly identified. When metabolic components are identified, stone activity may be attenuated with appropriate metabolic evaluation, pharmacological therapies and dietary modifications.     

Periurethral polytetrafluoroethylene injections in incontinent female subjects with neurogenic bladder disease

Urinary incontinence in female subjects with bladder instability secondary to neurogenic bladder disease is difficult to manage. Many times pharmacologic manipulation and the standard anti-incontinence surgical procedures are unsuccessful. We have found that the urethral occlusive technique using polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) paste is highly effective in maintaining continence. We describe 6 patients who achieved complete urinary control and empty the bladder with the use of intermittent catheterization. All of the patients are extremely satisfied with the end results of urinary continence and have accepted self-catheterization well.