[Continent urinary diversion in neurogenic bladders]

Many patients with urinary incontinence due to neurogenic sphincter insufficiency are treated by intermittent catheterization combined with drug therapy. A few refractory cases require surgical treatment. The authors report 5 cases of neurogenic bladder in 3 men and 2 women with a mean age of 20 years. The neurological lesion was secondary to spina bifida (2 cases), spinal cord trauma (2 cases) and leprosy (1 case). All patients complained of urinary incontinence due to sphincter atonia, with normal bladder compliance. We opted for continent cystostomy using the Benchekroun hydraulic valve. One death occurred during the postoperative period as a result of an anaesthetic accident. Reopening of the bladder neck occurred in 3 patients and required revision and one patient developed bladder stones 6 years after the operation. The functional results were considered to be excellent. Continent cystostomy using Benchekroun!! technique appears to be a reliable method in the treatment of urinary incontinence due to sphincter incompetence in selected patients.