Continence after bladder-neck reconstruction in patients with bladder exstrophy and pubic diastasis

To review the results of bladder-neck reconstruction in patients with repaired bladder exstrophy and pubic diastasis.

Nine girls (mean age 7 years, range 4-17) and four boys (mean age 9 years, range 5-15) underwent a modified Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder-neck reconstruction with augmentation cystoplasty (YDL-C). The patients were reviewed retrospectively (follow-up, 1-6 years) to assess continence, particularly in relation to the degree of pubic diastasis measured on an appropriate abdominal radiograph.

Ten patients were continent; seven girls and one boy are managed by clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and one girl and one boy void normally. One girl who would not allow CIC and one boy in whom CIC was not possible are incontinent and are scheduled for construction of a continent diversion. One incontinent boy who also would not allow CIC was lost to follow-up. Public diastasis had no bearing on the surgical results, the 10 continent patients having diastasis ranging from 4 to 9 cm (mean 5.5 cm) and the incontinent patients a diastasis of 3.4 and 6.5 cm (mean 4.5 cm).

Young-Dees-Leadbetter bladder-neck reconstruction with augmentation cystoplasty is a satisfactory operation in patients with bladder exstrophy. We believe that the rate of continence reflected a competent tubularization with an adequate bladder capacity and assured bladder emptying. A closed pelvis with approximated public bones is not necessary to achieve this objective.