Ureterocystoplasty: an alternative reconstructive procedure to enterocystoplasty in suitable cases

The objective of the report is to present the results of ureterocystoplasty in 6 children with megaureters and low-capacity, high-pressure bladders.

Of the 6 patients, 2 had valve bladders, 1 had Hinmann's syndrome, 1 had neuropathic bladder, and the remaining 2 with ureterocutaneostomy were mainly diverted because of refluxing megaureters. Nephrectomy was performed in both of the boys with posterior urethral valve because of vesicoureteral reflux dysplasia (VURD) syndrome, and the ipsilateral ureter was used for the augmentation. In 2 patients with ureterocutaneostomy and in 1 with Hinmann's syndrome, a transureteroureterostomy was carried out, and the distal part of the ureter was used to perform augmentation. The patient with neuropathic bladder had a nonfunctioning crossed ectopic left kidney with an associated ipsilateral, refluxing megaureter, and the ureter was used for augmentation after the nephrectomy.

All of the patients are continent, and 4 patients who are neurologically normal void spontaneously without requiring clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). The average increase in bladder capacity is 263% (range, 190% to 340%).

Ureterocystoplasty is the bladder augmentation of choice for patients with a nonfunctioning kidney with an associated ipsilateral, refluxing megaureter and for patients with kidneys both in good function and megaureters suitable for a transureteroureterostomy.