The modified Cantwell-Ransley repair for exstrophy and epispadias: 10-year experience

Contemporary issues relating to transitional care in bladder exstrophy

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Modified Cantwell-Ransley repair for isolated continent epispadias in adult: Our experience

PURPOSE

We evaluate here our experience with modified Cantwell-Ransley technique described by Gearhart for correction of isolated continent epispadias in adults with respect to its long-term functional outcome and complications.

INTRODUCTION

Isolated male epispadias is a rare anomaly with a reported incidence of 1 in 11,700 males. Many surgical techniques with various modifications described to correct epispadias as treatment are debatable and challenging. The majority of the cases are treated at childhood as clinical presentation is striking at birth; hence, presentation in adulthood is extremely rare.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

During the past 5 years, modified Cantwell-Ransley technique described by Gearhart was performed in five cases of isolated continent epispadias which includes two cases of proximal penile, two distal penile and one penopubic. All cases were fresh except one had prior failed repair. Corporal rotation was done by delayed absorbable sutures without incision and anastomosis and suprapubic diversions placed in all the cases.

RESULTS

All cases followed up ranging from 6 months to 5 years and were having horizontal and downwards angled penis. No case had urethrocutaneous fistula or stricture. One case had superficial skin infection which healed by secondary intention did not require any secondary procedure. All cases maintained erection post-operatively too. Catheterisation with soft tube revealed easily negotiable channel in all cases on follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Modified Cantwell-Ransley repair described by Gearhart has excellent cosmetic, functional and anatomical results in isolated continent epispadias in the adult.

Sub-urothelial polyp enucleation resection and urothelial auto-augmentation cystoplasty: a simple method for bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex reconstruction in bladder plate polyposis

OBJECTIVES

To report the results of a novel technique of sub-urothelial polyp enucleation resection (SUPER) and urothelial auto-augmentation cystoplasty (UAAC) in patients with bladder exstrophy and polyposis plate.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with bladder exstrophy covered by plate polyposis were referred for further management. From these, 12 patients had undergone SUPER, UAAC technique, and subsequent bladder closure. In this technique, the urothelium covering the polyps was utilized as tissue for auto-augmentation cystoplasty. Sixteen patients had been operated by simple polyps' excision and bladder closure. Biopsies of polyps were obtained in both groups at the time of closure for pathological evaluations. The bladder plate was measured pre-and post-bladder plate augmentation. The patients were evaluated every 3 months for 1 year and biannually thereafter for urinary continence and social dryness. Dry period of >3 h during the day with or without nocturnal incontinence was defined as social dryness.

RESULTS

All patients experienced an uneventful postoperative period. No sign of metaplasia or dysplasia was observed in the histological and cystoscopy evaluations. These findings suggest that neither polyp recurrence nor bladder tumor development has occurred in any of the groups. The urinary continence improved significantly in the polyp's urothelial coverage augmentation cystoplasty technique (66.7%), while 31.3% of patients in simple closure technique achieved continence. Significantly higher mean bladder capacity was obtained in the augmentation group (190 ± 38 ml) and (119 ± 21 ml), respectively. Postoperative mild hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux were significantly lower in auto-augmentation technique.

CONCLUSION

The final clinical outcome of children with bladder exstrophy polyposis is promising. The combined SUPER and UAAC technique is feasible, safe and reproducible option for bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC) patients with bladder plate polyposis. However, it will add one supplementary operation to the single or staged bladder reconstruction. These patients may warrant further surveillance with histopathological evaluations during the adult life.

Gender-associated differences in the psychosocial and developmental outcome in patients affected with the bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex

OBJECTIVE

To identify problems in the long-term psychosocial and developmental outcome specific to patients with the bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC), using a self-developed semi-structured questionnaire, as there are various techniques of reconstruction to repair BEEC but to date neither patients nor surgeons have a clear answer about which type gives the most acceptable long-term results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Increasingly many patients with BEEC reach adulthood and wish to have sexual relationships and families. To date, no studies have used disease-specific psychological instruments to measure the psychosocial status of patients with BEEC. Thus we contacted 208 patients with BEEC, and 122 were enrolled, covering the complete spectrum of the BEEC. The data assessed included the surgical reconstruction, subjective assessment of continence, developmental milestones, school performance and career, overall satisfaction in life, disease-specific fears and partnership experiences in patients aged >18 years. We compared affected females and males to assess gender-associated differences in quality of life.

RESULTS

Affected females had more close friendships, fewer disadvantages in relation to healthy female peers and more partnerships than the males. Family planning seemed to be less of a problem in affected females. There were no gender differences in the adjustments within school and professional career, which was very good in general.

CONCLUSION

Future studies are needed to assess the disease-specific anxieties, considering gender-specific differences.