Complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy is associated with detrusor underactivity type of neurogenic bladder

To test the hypothesis that complete primary repair of bladder exstrophy (CPRE) is associated with detrussor underactivity. For this purpose, we review (1) our experience, (2) the results of the published literature as it pertains to bladder function, and (3) the known anatomic basis on which the mechanism of the observed outcome can be understood.

The medical records of all patients who underwent CPRE by the author between 2004 and 2010 were reviewed. Attention was focused on the clinical, imaging, and urodynamic findings.

Four men and 2 women underwent CPRE. Follow-up ranges from 2 to 8 years. Four underwent bilateral ureteral reimplantation combined with bladder neck repair in 3. Detrusor activity (or overactivity) was not recorded in the 5 patients who underwent urodynamic studies. Four patients achieved short periods of urinary continence. The percent predicted bladder capacity, adjusted for age, ranged from 25 to 70, with a median of 60. Of the 68 publications on CPRE since 1999, none reports the presence of detrusor activity. A description of the pelvic plexus anatomy by Walsh and Donker provides a basis for the mechanism of injury resulting in the previously mentioned results: (1) complete penile disassembly eliminates the distal fixation point of the bladder-urethral plate, (2) the subsequent dissection and mobilization result in shearing injury to the microscopic pelvic plexus branches to the bladder, external sphincter, and prostatic urethra.

CPRE results in disruption of the branches of the pelvic plexus and a neurogenic bladder (detrussor underactivity).