Intestinocystoplasty in combination with clean intermittent catheterization in the management of vesical dysfunction

Intestinocystoplasty in combination with clean intermittent catheterization has been used in the management of 60 young patients with bladder dysfunction. Of the patients 39 (65 per cent) had the primary diagnosis of myelomeningocele, 8 had sacral agenesis, 3 had spinal cord tumors and 1 had spinal cord trauma. The remaining 9 patients had either congenital, surgical or traumatic loss of all or a large portion of the bladder. Of the 60 patients 30 had undergone prior urinary diversion, while the remaining 30 were considered failures with management by clean intermittent catheterization and medication. A total of 16 patients underwent ileocecocystoplasty, while 44 had augmentation with either cecum (8), sigmoid (18) or ileum (18). Mean followup was 4 years (range 16 months to 7 years). Fifty-nine patients have stable or improved renal function and the excretory urogram is stable or improved in all 60. Of the patients 38 (63 per cent) were considered dry after the initial bladder augmentation, while an additional 14 were rendered dry by a second procedure consisting of bladder neck reconstruction or placement of the artificial urinary sphincter, for a total of 52 (87 per cent) currently considered to be dry. Eleven patients have had at least 1 symptomatic urinary tract infection (18 per cent) and 21 had a positive urine culture but remained asymptomatic. In contrast to earlier beliefs, intestinocystoplasty can be applied effectively and appropriately to patients with bladder and urethral dysfunction. Intestinocystoplasty combined with clean intermittent catheterization offers a significant alternative to diversion in such patients.