Modern staged repair of bladder exstrophy: a contemporary series

Abstract

Objective: Many changes have occurred in the treatment of bladder exstrophy over the last few years and many repairs are now offered. The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term outcomes in a select group of patients in whom modern staged repair (MSRE) was undertaken.

Patients and methods: From an institutionally approved database were extracted 189 patients who had undergone primary closure between 1988 and 2004. The records of 131 patients (95 males) who underwent MSRE with a modified Cantwell-Ransley repair by a single surgeon in 1988-2004 were reviewed with a minimum 5-year follow up.

Results: Sixty-seven patients with a mean age of 2 months (range 6 h to 4 months) underwent primary closure, and 18 underwent osteotomy at the same time. Mean age at epispadias repair was 18 months (8-24). Mean age at bladder neck reconstruction (BNR) was 4.8 years (40-60 months) with a mean capacity of 98 cc (75-185). Analysis of bladder capacity prior to BNR revealed that patients with a mean capacity greater than 85 cc median had better outcomes. Seventy percent (n=47) are continent day and night and voiding per urethra without augmentation or intermittent catheterization. Social continence defined as dry for more than 3h during the day was found in 10% (n=7). Six patients required continent diversion after failed BNR. Seven patients are completely incontinent. The mean time to daytime continence was 14 months (4-23) and the mean time to night-time continence was 23 months (11-34). No correlation was found between age at BNR and continence.

Conclusions: Patients with a good bladder template who develop sufficient bladder capacity after successful primary closure and epispadias repair can achieve acceptable continence without bladder augmentation and intermittent catheterization.