The management of the neuropathic bladder in adolescents with imperforate anus

The management of 58 patients born with an imperforate anus who presented to the urology service and who are currently 18 years old or older is discussed. Of the 44 patients with a high imperforate anus 43 were treated by a rectal pull-through and 1 by an anal cut back procedure, while an anal cut back procedure was used in all 14 children with a low imperforate anus. A total of 32 children (55%) had a neuropathic bladder (hyperreflexic in 29 and atonic in 3). A spinal deformity was present in 72% of the hyperreflexic group but not in the atonic group. Vesicoureteral reflux occurred in 41% of the patients, two-thirds of whom had a neuropathic bladder. A total of 30 children had an associated genital anomaly and 27 had an upper tract anomaly. Nineteen children underwent an operation for the neuropathic bladder, with modern reconstructive methods involving substitution or augmentation cystoplasty, supplemented with self-catheterization, being superior to older methods with regard to continence. The incidence of a neuropathic bladder in these children is high in both operative groups but it is usually associated with a spinal deformity and unlikely to be iatrogenic in nature unless proved to be of lower motor neuron origin. Early operative management is advised to achieve continence and minimize renal impairment.