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. 2017 Apr 22;15(3):248-253.
doi: 10.1016/j.aju.2017.03.004. eCollection 2017 Sep.

Diagnosis and treatment of urethral prolapse in children: 16 years' experience with 89 Chinese girls

Yi Wei  1   2 , Sheng-de Wu  1   2 , Tao Lin  1   3 , Da-Wei He  1   4 , Xu-Liang Li  1   3 , Guang-Hui Wei  1   2   3   4
Affiliations

Diagnosis and treatment of urethral prolapse in children: 16 years' experience with 89 Chinese girls

Yi Wei et al. Arab J Urol. .

Abstract

Objective: To review our experience and results in the diagnosis and treatment of urethral prolapse (UP) in Chinese girls.

Patients and methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 89 consecutive girls (aged <16 years) with UP and without other complications, who received treatment for UP from January 1999 to January 2015 (a study period of 16 years) at the Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, China. Data analysed included: age, symptoms, clinical findings, predisposing factors, management, and outcomes.

Results: The presenting symptoms in the 89 girls were: mass (54 girls), bleeding (34), and dysuria/straining at micturition (one). In all, 14 patients received conservative treatment as their symptoms were mild, and 75 were successfully treated by excision of the prolapsed urethral mucosa or ligation over a Foley catheter, as their symptoms were severe and recurred too frequently to be managed conservatively. The mean postoperative length of stay for ligation was 7.76 days and for excision was 4.57 days. Ligation over a Foley catheter had a longer hospital stay.

Conclusions: UP is a rare condition occurring in prepubertal girls, evidenced by a urethral mass and bleeding. Increased physician awareness and early recognition of UP avoids unnecessary examinations and patient anxiety.

Keywords: BMI, body mass index; China; FLACC, Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (pain scale); Girls; Management; UP, urethral prolapse; Urethral prolapse.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The process of ligation over a Foley catheter. (A) diagram of UP. (B) Catheterisation with a Foley catheter, (C) the prolapsing mass is ‘slinged’ by suture. (D) Ligation over the Foley.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(A) Age distribution of children at the time of diagnosis of UP. (B) BMI percentile of children with UP. (C) Seasonal distribution of UP. (D) Mass prolapsing from pudendal labia.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Postoperative histopathological appearance of UP.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Summary of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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