Treatment of patients with bladder exstrophy or incontinent epispadias. A long-term follow-up

To determine the late outcome concerning urinary continence, late complications, sexuality, and fertility in patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

Until July 1994, 115 patients underwent surgical treatment at our institution. The mean follow-up period in 102 patients is 16.7 years. Urinary diversion was performed in 88 patients, a modified Young-Dees procedure in 8, a sling plasty in 3, and genital reconstruction alone in 3 patients.

The present continence rates are 96% for rectal reservoirs, 97% for Mainz pouch 1, and 67% for the modified Young-Dees procedure. The upper tracts have remained stable, and no bowel neoplasms have developed. 16 of 17 women > or = 18 years of age are satisfied with the cosmetic result after genital reconstruction. All adults engage in sexual intercourse; 5 women have delivered 7 children by cesarean section. 30 of 32 male adults are satisfied with the cosmetic result of the reconstructed external genitalia. Penile deviation was present in 11, distressing in 2 patients. After genital reconstruction 9 developed epididymitis, necessitating 2 orchiectomies and 3 vasectomies. No patient with reconstruction of the external genitalia can ejaculate normally or has fathered children, whereas the ejaculation was normal in 3 who did not undergo genital reconstruction. Furthermore, 2 of the 5 have fathered 4 children.

Rectal reservoirs represent our urinary diversion of choice. After failed reconstruction/insufficient anal sphincter, a Mainz pouch I is constructed. The cosmetic results achieved by genital reconstruction are satisfactory. In women, antefixation of the uterus should be performed before or together with an introitus plasty to prevent uterine prolapse. In men, however, surgery is performed at the expense of fertility.