Small bowel augmentation in children with neurogenic bladder: an initial report of urodynamic findings

Augmentation cystoplasty is a useful adjunct in the treatment of the neurogenic bladder. After preoperative urodynamic and clinical assessment, 10 children with neurogenic bladders underwent small bowel augmentation. Presenting clinical problems included incontinence and hydronephrosis. Urodynamic studies after small bowel augmentation demonstrated that bladder capacity increased an average of 184 per cent. Maximum intravesical pressures diminished considerably compared to preoperative values and no patient suffered significant uninhibited contractions. Nine children are totally dry and 1 has stress incontinence. Our initial findings demonstrate the efficacy of small bowel augmentation in the treatment of lower urinary tract neurogenic dysfunction owing primarily to alterations in detrusor function.