Neurovesical dysfunction in children after treating pelvic neoplasms

Lumbar functional evaluation of pelvic bone sarcomas after surgical resection and spinal pelvic fixation: A clinical study of 304 cases

AIMS

We endeavored to introduce a novel scoring system (Lumbar Functional Index, LFI) capable of evaluating lumbar function in pelvic bone sarcoma patients who underwent surgical resection and spinal pelvic fixation, while simultaneously identifying the incidence, outcomes, and risk factors of lumbar function impairment among these populations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cohort of 304 primary bone sarcoma patients were recruited. The LFI was created based on the Oswestry Dysfunction Index (ODI) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores. Lumbar function impairment was defined as LFI score ≥ 18 points, which was identified as high LFI. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and oncological outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

The cohort included chondrosarcoma (39.8%), osteosarcoma (29.9%), Ewing sarcoma (8.6%), bone-derived undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (7.2%), giant cell tumor of bone (7.2%), chordoma (2.3%), and other bone sarcomas (5.0%). The LFI score exhibited significant negative correlation with common scoring systems of bone sarcoma. The incidence of high LFI was 23.0%. Patients with high LFI demonstrated a higher prevalence of type I + II + III + IV pelvic tumor, more sacrificed nerve roots and bilateral lumbar spine fixation during surgery, while lower percentage of R0 resection and local control of pelvic tumor. Decreased median overall survival (30 vs. 52 months, p < 0.001) and recurrence-free survival (14 vs. 24 months, p < 0.001) time were observed in these patients. Type I + II + III + IV pelvic tumor and sacrificed nerve roots≥2 were identified as risk factors for high LFI, while R0 resection and local control were identified as protective factors.

CONCLUSION

The LFI scoring system exhibited a significant negative correlation to current scoring systems. High LFI patients had worse prognosis and distinct characteristics. The risk factors of high LFI included type I + II + III + IV pelvic tumor and sacrificed nerve roots≥2, and the protective factors included R0 resection and local control.

A case of sacrococcygeal teratoma associated with antenatally acquired urethrovaginal fistula and hydrocolpos

BACKGROUND

Sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) are known to cause urological complications, but urethrovaginal (UV) fistula as a complication of SCT is rare. We herein report a case of SCT with UV fistula and hydrocolpos.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 1-day-old female neonate presented to our department with prominent swelling in the sacrococcygeal region. She was born at 37 gestational weeks via spontaneous vaginal delivery from a 39-year-old woman. The weight of the baby was 2965 g, and her Apgar scores were 4/10 (at 1 and 5 min). An MRI examination confirmed an 11 × 11 cm Altman classification typeII SCT associated with hydrocolpos, a dilated urinary bladder, and bilateral hydronephrosis. When she was 5 days, the SCT was excised totally and a coccygectomy was performed. After the operation, as her urinary output appeared unstable, a cystoscopic examination was performed on the third postoperative day. This revealed that the UV fistula was located approximately 1 cm from the urethral opening. In addition, the proximal urethra was unobstructed and connected to the bladder. The cystoscope allowed for the passage of a urinary catheter through the urethra. After 1 month of catheter placement, she was discharged from the hospital at 57 days of age. Follow-up was uneventful, with neither urinary infection nor retention.

CONCLUSIONS

SCTs are associated with not only trouble with rectal function and lower extremity movement but also urinary complications. The pathogenesis of this UV fistula is thought to be the rapid growth of the SCT that developed in the fetal period, resulting in obstruction of the urethra by the tumor and the pubic bone, which in turn caused urinary retention and the formation of a fistula as an escape route for the pressure. Because SCTs can cause a variety of complications depending on the course of the disease, careful examination and follow-up are necessary.

Onabotulinum Toxin A Intradetrusor Injections in Children with Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: Long-Term Histological Effects on the Bladder Wall

BACKGROUND

In the last twenty-five years, Onabotulinum Toxin A (BTX-A) has gained increasing popularity for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) treatment. To maintain its efficacy, repeated BTX-A intradetrusor injections are required over time, with unknown effects on the bladder wall in children. The aim of this paper is to report long-term effects on the bladder wall in children treated with BTX-A.

METHODS

Children with NLUTD not responsive to anticholinergics were treated with BTX-A, according to our protocol, with bladder wall control using endoscopic cold-cup biopsy. Specimens were evaluated considering edema, chronic inflammation, and fibrosis.

RESULTS

Of the 230 patients treated from 1997 to 2022, we considered only specimens obtained in patients who had received ≥5 treatments (36 children), considered as the threshold to evaluate clinical effectiveness on long-term treatment with BTX-A. Most of them had congenital NLUTD (25 patients) and detrusor overactivity (27 patients). In all, increased edema and chronic inflammation with reduced fibrosis over time was reported; these data were not statistically significant. No difference was observed between patients with congenital and acquired diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

Repeated intradetrusor BTX-A injections are not related to significant histological alterations in children, similarly with adults, and repeated injections could be considered safe.

Intraoperative Neuromonitoring for Pediatric Pelvic Tumors

Background

Tumors of the pre-sacral and sacral spaces are a rare occurrence in children. Total tumor excision is required due to the significant risk of relapse in the event of partial surgery, but the surgical procedure may lead to postoperative problems such as urinary, sexual, and anorectal dysfunctions. Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) has gained popularity in recent years as a strategy for preventing the onset of neurologic impairments by combining several neurophysiological techniques. The aim of our study is to describe the experience of Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in the use of IONM in pediatric pelvic surgery.

Materials and Methods

The data of patients treated for pelvic malignancies at Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital from 2015 to 2019 were retrospectively collected. All patients were assessed from a neurologic and neuro-urologic point of view at different time-points (before and immediately after surgery, after 6 months, and 1-year follow-up). They were all monitored during a surgical procedure using multimodal IONM including transcranial motor evoked potentials (TcMEP), triggered-EMG (t-EMG), pudendal somatosensory evoked potentials (PSSEP), and bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR).

Results

During the study period, ten children underwent pelvic tumor removal at our Institution. In all cases, intraoperative neurophysiological recordings were stable and feasible. The preservation of neurophysiological response at the same intensity during surgical procedures correlated with no new deficits for all neurophysiological techniques.

Discussion

Although the impact of the IONM on surgical strategies and clinical follow-up is unknown, this preliminary experience suggests that the appropriate use of several neurophysiological techniques can influence both the radicality of pelvic tumor removal and the neurological and urological outcome at clinical follow-up. Finally, because of the highly complex anatomy and inter-individual variances, this is especially useful in this type of surgery.

Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction in Children and Adolescents

Neurogenic/neuropathic bowel dysfunction (NBD) is common in children who are affected by congenital and acquired neurological disease, and negatively impacts quality of life. In the past, NBD received less attention than neurogenic bladder, generally being considered only in spina bifida (the most common cause of pediatric NBD). Many methods of conservative and medical management of NBD are reported, including relatively recently Transanal Irrigation (TAI). Based on the literature and personal experience, an expert group (pediatric urologists/surgeons/gastroenterologists with specific experience in NBD) focused on NBD in children and adolescents. A statement document was created using a modified Delphi method. The range of causes of pediatric NBD are discussed in this paper. The various therapeutic approaches are presented to improve clinical management. The population of children and adolescents with NBD is increasing, due both to the higher survival rate and better diagnosis. While NBD is relatively predictable in producing either constipation or fecal incontinence, or both, its various effects on each patient will depend on a wide range of underlying causes and accompanying comorbidities. For this reason, management of NBD should be tailored individually with a combined multidisciplinary therapy appropriate for the status of the affected child and caregivers.

International Consultation on Incontinence 2016; Executive summary: Urodynamic testing

AIMS

The International Consultation on Incontinence has published an update of the recommendations for the diagnosis and management of urine incontinence (ICI2016). This manuscript summarizes the consultations committee-recommendations with regard to urodynamic assessment.

METHODS

Expert consensus on the basis of structured evidence assessment has been the basis of the consultations publication and has been summarized by the committee for this manuscript.

RESULTS

Patients that are not satisfied with their initial management on the basis of their reported signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence, as well as all patients with neurological abnormalities that are potentially relevant for the function of the lower urinary tract, may very likely profit from objective diagnosis and staging and grading of their dysfunction, with urodynamic testing, regardless their age, vulnerability and/or comorbidities. The principles and technical innovations as well as the principal recommendations for the utilization of (invasive) urodynamic assessment for women, men, children, and vulnerable elderly, with or without neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with urinary incontinence are provided in this abbreviated ICI recommendations-document.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICI2016 committee on urodynamics presents an executive summary of the most important reasons and recommendations for the use of urodynamic investigations for patients with urinary incontinence.

Intraoperative Nerve Monitoring in Robotic-Assisted Resection Of Presacral Ganglioneuroma: Operative Technique

BACKGROUND

Robotic-assisted techniques have been implemented in the surgical treatment of tumors in the pelvis, abdomen, and thorax. In pelvic tumors, robotic-assisted techniques evade the need for sizable surgical exposure, but make stimulation of the nerves of the sacral plexus very difficult.

OBJECTIVE

To describe how laparoscopic robotic-assisted surgery can couple with tools such as the nerve stimulator to aid in the resection of presacral masses emanating from the neural elements and potentially improve neurological outcome by preventing inadvertent injury to involved nerves.

METHODS

A patient with a large presacral ganglioneuroma underwent resection using the DaVinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, California) for robotic assistance. A nerve stimulator was coupled to the bipolar cautery instrument of the DaVinci robot to define the presence of functional nerves in the surroundings of the tumor.

RESULTS

By coupling a nerve stimulator to the bipolar cautery instrument of the DaVinci robot (Intuitive Surgical), it was possible to identify important neural structures in close proximity to the tumor. After identifying functional nerves, the surgeon was able to preserve them and preserve neurological function avoiding motor dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

The use of a nerve stimulator coupled to the bipolar cautery instrument of the DaVinci robot (Intuitive Surgical) during laparoscopic, robotic-assisted surgery for resection of presacral masses is safe and feasible. In addition to the preoperative evaluation, intraoperative monitoring and stimulation of nerves in close proximity to the tumor and also exiting through neural foramina involved by the tumor allowed the surgeon to understand the anatomy and preserve neurological function while obtaining optimal surgical resection.

Paediatric genitourinary cancers and late effects of treatment

The most common childhood genitourinary cancers are Wilms tumour, rhabdomyosarcoma and germ cell tumour (GCT). Long-term survival rates for patients with these tumours are generally excellent, ranging from 80% to 100%. However, the high cure rates have highlighted the need to minimize the long-term complications of treatments (referred to as 'late effects'), which can be caused by the three treatment modalities used to treat genitourinary tumours: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Serious late effects, such as death, second cancers and tumour recurrence, are uncommon but do occur occasionally. Chronic health conditions--such as cardiac, pulmonary and fertility disorders--are more prevalent. Given the high prevalence of late effects, survivors of childhood genitourinary malignancies require regular surveillance and health promotion delivered by health-care providers with specialist knowledge of the long-term complications of treatment.

Sporadic synchronous ganglioneuromas in a child--case report and review

An 8-year-old girl presented with a relatively asymptomatic abdominopelvic mass that was detected in the neonatal period. She harbored a presacral mass with intraspinal extension and a right posterior mediastinal mass; all were excised completely and were ganglioneuromas. The report discusses the maturation of neuroblastoma-ganglioneuromas and details the staged management of sporadic synchronous ganglioneuromas in a child, probably the first in published English literature.

Late effects on the urinary bladder in patients treated for cancer in childhood: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

Childhood cancer survivors who have had pelvic or central nervous system surgery or have received alkylator-containing chemotherapy or pelvic radiotherapy as part of their cancer therapy may experience urinary bladder late effects. This article reviews the medical literature on long-term bladder complications in survivors of childhood cancer and outlines the Children's Oncology Group Long-Term Follow-up (COG LTFU) Guidelines related to bladder function. An overview of the treatment of bladder late effects and recommended counseling for survivors with these complications are presented.

Retrospective study of childhood ganglioneuroma

PURPOSE

To review a historical cohort of childhood ganglioneuroma (GN), the benign representative of the peripheral neuroblastic tumor (PNT) family.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 2,286 PNTs enrolled between 1979 and 2005, 146 (6.4%) were registered as GN. Histological revision was carried out on 76 tumors. Diagnosis was confirmed in 45, while 27 were reclassified as ganglioneuroblastoma intermixed (GNBI) and four were reclassified as other PNT subtypes.

RESULTS

GNs differed from other PNTs for sex, age, tumor site, stage, tumor markers, and scintigraphic results. Characteristics of 76 reviewed and 70 nonreviewed patients were comparable. Reviewed GN and GNBI patients were comparable except for homovanillic acid excretion, metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy, and DNA content. Seven patients were only biopsied and 139 underwent surgery. Twenty-two patients suffered surgery-related complications, of which two were fatal and seven were severe. Radical tumor resection and surgery-related complication rates were comparable for GN, GNBI, and nonreviewed instances. Six patients developed tumor progression but survived. Two patients developed a late malignancy but survived. None of the 146 patients received chemotherapy. Of 146 patients, two died of surgery-related complications and 144 survived.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis was changed to GNBI for approximately one third of 76 reviewed tumors. Patients with confirmed GN, reclassified as GNBI, and nonreviewed histology presented with comparable clinical, biochemical, and biologic features. Surgical results, complication rate, number of progressions, and outcome were similar for the three groups. Surgery was associated with significant risk of complications. Survival was not influenced by extent of tumor resection. Aggressive surgical approach should not be recommended for childhood GN and GNBI.

Neurogenic Bladder Dysfunction After Sacrococcygeal Teratoma Resection

PURPOSE

SCT treatment in newborns consists of surgery and selective chemotherapy. Few reports document urological sequelae using this approach. This review focuses on the urological and neurourological findings following SCT treatment in the newborn period.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We reviewed the records of all infants with SCT resected in early infancy who underwent urodynamic evaluation for bladder dysfunction between 1986 and 2004. The radiological, neurological and urodynamic findings, and postoperative incontinence management were analyzed.

RESULTS

We analyzed UDS of 14 patients who presented with urinary infection or incomplete bladder emptying after SCT resection. At the time of UDS an abnormal neurological examination was noted in 5 patients (36%). Detrusor overactivity was seen in 8 patients, underactivity in 2 and normal activity in 4. Abnormal urethral sphincter EMG potentials were observed in 7 of 13 patients (54%). Five of 13 patients (38%) had sphincter dyssynergia during voiding. Consequently, CIC was needed in 11 of the 14 patients (79%) to empty the bladder, of whom 5 also required anticholinergics to improve detrusor compliance and dryness. Only 3 patients voided spontaneously with normal bladder and sphincter function, of whom 2 were toilet trained. Hydronephrosis was seen in 6 patients and reflux was noted in 7 (including 5 of 6 with hydronephrosis). Antireflux surgery was performed in 6 patients, all of whom had up to grade 4 reflux due to recurrent urinary tract infection. One girl with grade 2 reflux had spontaneous resolution.

CONCLUSIONS

SCT and its treatment can produce neurourological dysfunction of the lower urinary tract with high grade reflux, and abnormal bladder and urethral function. Complete assessment, including urodynamic studies, is imperative preoperatively and postoperatively. Constant vigilance is required to maintain as near normal bladder function as possible and to prevent upper urinary tract injury.

[Urodynamic investigations in children]

Performing urodynamic investigations in children presents some difficulty due to the lack of any normogram, and due to the results that vary with age. Such investigation is therefore carried out only when clinical examination and radiological assessment fail to explain a voiding dysfunction. The procedure should be performed in a urodynamic unit that has paediatric expertise. A specific paediatric procedure is to be respected when performing uroflowmetry and cystometry in children. Assessing the urethral pressure profile is very difficult since moving a catheter along the urethra causes a reflex activity of the pelvic floor muscles. Main indications are: neuropathic bladders, voiding dysfunctions, urinary infections, anorectal malformations and pelvic tumours. As in adults, urodynamic investigations are useful when selecting a therapeutic strategy.