The contribution of preconditioning hyperbaric oxygen for complex re-operative surgery of bladder exstrophy and...

Multiple surgeries on patients born with bladder exstrophy and epispadias (BEE) especially when complicated by postoperative infections results in varying degrees of scarring of the tissues and decreased vascularity. When further surgery for these patients is contemplated the tissue ischemia may result in poor healing and additional complications. Problem wounds due to arterial insufficiency mainly in diabetic ulcers and following therapeutic radiation are commonly treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). It was hypothesized that the pathologic features of severe fibrosis and tissue ischemia in repeat BEE surgery are similar to those of post radiotherapy patients and would therefore benefit from HBOT.

Examine the role of preconditioning and postoperative adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy in repeat surgery of complex cases of bladder exstrophy and epispadias who underwent multiple failed surgical repairs (6-10 operations).

Review of the records of selected eleven patient (9 males and 2 females), the ages varying between 2 and 30 years, 9 patients were born with bladder exstrophy and 2 with epispadias. All patients underwent multiple surgeries often complicated by postoperative wound infection and break down of their repairs. They were referred by other experienced surgeons for further correction of abnormalities which included recurrent abdominal wall hernias following wound dehiscence and repeat repairs of the scarred and deformed genitalia (figure) following multiple surgical failures. For this high morbidity group of patients, the protocol which was adopted included pre-operative 20 dives of HBOT at 1.5 for the young child and 2 atmospheric pressures for the older patients followed by 5-10 dives postoperatively.

All patients tolerated the HBO without side effects, and all achieved a satisfactory surgical outcome of the repairs of the large recurrent abdominal hernias, and reconstruction of the external genitalia (figure). Postoperative evaluation was conducted by the parents or patient and the surgeon using a modified scoring system. 3/11 encountered minor complications, suture tracks (2 pts.) and hypertrophic scar which faded over one year (1 pt) CONCLUSIONS: Preconditioning HBO may be utilized as an adjunctive treatment and preventive strategy to activate the protective mechanisms of neovascularization which would reduce the potential morbidity and improve wound healing of compromised and less vascularized tissues of selected patients born with BEE who endured multiple surgical complication.