A neo-urethral enteroplication for urinary continence in a case of cloacal exstrophy

A four-year-old female, born with cloacal exstrophy, returned for evaluation of her urinary incontinence two years after her initial repair. Her bladder had been turned in at her first operation and had a capacity of approximately 15 cc. Her ureters exited close to the reconstructed introitus. At reoperation, her bladder measured 3.5 cm in length and appeared to be well healed and of normal consistency. An anterior wall bladder flap was created which was based at the dome and was reflected 180 degrees cephalad. The bladder was then tubularized over a #10 french catheter to create a "neo-urethra" of 6 cm in length. Both ureters were reimplanted into an intestinal conduit, constructed 18 cm long, in a nonrefluxing fashion. The distal, oversewn, end of the conduit was sewn down into the pelvis, at the level of the bladder neck and posterior to the "neo-urethra." The end of the neo-urethra was anastomosed to the anterior wall of the intestinal reservoir, which was then plicated circumferentially around the neo-urethra in a manner very similar to the construction of a Nissen fundoplication for gastro-esophageal reflux. Pressure in the reservoir serves to keep the neo-urethra closed so that urine cannot escape until the neo-urethra is intubated. She is currently continent of urine with a successful program of clean intermittent catheterization. Her upper tracts remain undilated and are free of intestinal-ureteral reflux. Her urine is sterile.