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. 2021 Mar 10;8(3):209.
doi: 10.3390/children8030209.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Bladder and Bowel Control in Children with Spina Bifida

Helen Träff  1 , Anna Börjesson  1 , Martin Salö  1
Affiliations

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Bladder and Bowel Control in Children with Spina Bifida

Helen Träff et al. Children (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: The primary aim was to describe patient-reported morbidity from neurogenic bladder and bowel dysfunction in a cohort of children with spina bifida. The secondary aim was to describe the overall surgical burden in these children.

Methods: Children with meningocele or myelomeningocele, born between 2000-2016, and followed by a tertiary spina bifida center were evaluated in a cross-sectional cohort study using data from charts and a prospective national follow-up program.

Results: In the group of 62 patients, clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was used by 47 (76%) of the patients, and anticholinergic treatment was used by 36 (58%). More than one third of the patients reported inadequate results with daily urinary leakage. Laxatives and enema were used regularly by 45 (73%) and 39 (63%) patients, respectively. Inadequate results were reported by seven (11%) patients. One or more urogenital or gastrointestinal operations had been performed in 26 (42%) patients, with a total of 109 procedures overall.

Conclusions: Despite substantial bowel and bladder management, a significant portion of children suffered from inadequate results concerning bladder and bowel control. Many surgeries were performed in a defined group of the children. Prospective, long-term studies can evaluate if more aggressive medical and/or surgical management could increase bowel and bladder control.

Keywords: bowel management; neurogenic bladder; outcome; spina bifida; surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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