Continent urinary diversion and bladder augmentation in children: the Mainz pouch procedure

The formation of a bowel reservoir of large capacity at low pressure by using small and large bowel (ileocaecal segment) has proved reliable for achieving continent urinary diversion (n = 80), for bladder augmentation (n = 42) as well as for total bladder replacement (n = 24). Encouraged by the results we obtained in our adult patients, we have used this technique during the last 3.5 years in 29 children. Indications for urinary diversions in children have been: neurogenic bladder with diplegia (n = 8), bladder exstrophy (n = 2), traumatic loss of the bladder (n = 1), urogenital sinus (n = 1) and rhabdomyosarcoma of the prostate or bladder (n = 2). Bladder augmentation was indicated in 6 children with iatrogenic bladder loss, in 5 children with neurogenic bladder without diplegia and in 4 boys with incontinent epispadias or exstrophy. In children with bladder exstrophy or incontinent epispadias, continence was achieved using a modified Young-Dees technique with formation of a long intra-abdominal muscular tube made out of the bladder plate or the low-capacity bladder. The capacity of the urinary reservoir was guaranteed by bladder augmentation or bladder replacement with an ileocaecal pouch. During a mean follow-up period of 26 months (bladder augmentation) and 21 months (continent diversion) there was only one postoperative complication (intussusception ileus) which required operative revision. Two children had to undergo reoperation because of nipple problems. Follow-up, with monitoring of biochemical and metabolic parameters, is necessary to show whether this technique will provide a long-term successful solution for these problems.