Anomaly of the persistent cloaca in female infants

Surgical management of cloacal malformations: a review of 339 patients

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to describe lessons learned from the authors' series of patients with cloaca and convey the improved understanding and surgical treatment of the condition's wide spectrum of complexity.

METHODS

The medical records of 339 patients with cloaca operated on by the authors were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 265 patients underwent primary operations, and 74 were secondary. All patients were approached posterior sagittally; 111 of them also required a laparotomy. The average length of the common channel was 4.7 cm for patients that required a laparotomy and 2.3 cm for those that did not. Vaginal reconstruction involved a vaginal pull-through in 196 patients, a vaginal flap in 38, vaginal switch in 30, and vaginal replacement in 75 (36 with rectum, 31 with ileum, and 8 with colon). One hundred twenty-two patients underwent a total urogenital mobilization. Complications included vaginal stricture or atresia in 17, urethral strictures in 6, and urethro-vaginal fistula in 19, all of which occurred before the introduction of the total urogenital mobilization. A total of 54% of all evaluated patients were continent of urine and 24% remain dry with intermittent catheterization through their native urethra and 22% through a Mitrofanoff-type of conduit. Seventy-eight percent of the patients with a common channel longer than 3 cm require intermittent catheterization compared with 28% when their common channel was shorter than 3 cm. Sixty percent of all cases have voluntary bowel movements (28% of them never soiled, and 72% soiled occasionally). Forty percent are fecally incontinent but remain clean when subjected to a bowel management program. Forty-eight patients born at other institutions with hydrocolpos were not treated correctly during the neonatal period. The surgeons failed to drain the dilated vaginas, which interfered with the drainage of the ureters and provoked urinary tract infections, pyocolpos, and/or vaginal perforation. In 24 patients, the colostomy was created too distally, and it interfered with the pull-through. Twenty-three patients suffered from colostomy prolapse. All of these patients required a colostomy, revision before the main repair. Thirty-six patients underwent reoperation because they had a persistent urogenital sinus after an operation done at another institution, and 38 patients underwent reoperation because they suffered from atresia or stenosis of the vagina or urethra. The series was divided into 2 distinct groups of patients: group A were those with a common channel shorter than 3 cm (62%) and group B had a common channel longer than 3 cm (38%).

CONCLUSIONS

The separation of these groups has important therapeutic and prognostic implications. Group A patients can be repaired posterior sagittally with a reproducible, relatively short operation. Because they represent the majority of patients, we believe that most well-trained pediatric surgeons can repair these type of malformations, and the prognosis is good. Group B patients (those with a common channel longer than 3 cm), usually require a laparotomy and have a much higher incidence of associated urologic problems. The surgeons who repair these malformations require special training in urology, and the operations are prolonged, technically demanding, and the functional results are not as good as in group A. It is extremely important to establish an accurate neonatal diagnosis, drain the hydrocolpos when present, and create an adequate, totally diverting colostomy, leaving enough distal colon available for the pull-through and fixing the colon to avoid prolapse. A correct diagnosis will allow the surgeon to repair the entire defect and avoid a persistent urogenital sinus. Cloacas comprise a spectrum of defects requiring a complex array of surgical decisions. The length of the common channel is an important determinant of the potential for urinary control, and predicts the extent of surgical repair.

Total urogenital mobilization--an easier way to repair cloacas

The surgical treatment of persistent cloaca is a serious challenge. The operation is technically difficult and the final results for urinary and fecal function are far from excellent. The repair of a cloaca includes, among other maneuvers, the separation of the vagina from the urinary tract. This step is a serious technical challenge and is very time consuming. Devascularization of these structures is the main source of complications such as urethro-vaginal fistula, vaginal stricture, and acquired vaginal atresia. To avoid these complications and to facilitate the cloacal repair, a new technical variation using total urogenital mobilization was performed in 11 patients. In this procedure, after the rectum is separated from the vagina, both the urethra and the vagina are mobilized together as a single unit. The surgical time spent during the reconstruction was reduced by approximately 70%. All patients recovered well from the operations and have been followed up for 1 to 14 months. The blood supply of the vagina and urethra in all cases remained excellent. No patient developed urethrovaginal fistula, vaginal stricture, or acquired vaginal atresia. The cosmetic appearance in these patients is superior to the one achieved with previous techniques. Although this maneuver may not render better urinary or fecal control, the urethra is more accessible for catheterization. These preliminary results suggest that the total urogenital mobilization maneuver provides a definite technical advance in the repair of cloaca malformations.

Hydrometrocolpos Associated With Uterovagina1 Duplication

This is a case report of prenatal observation of uterovaginal duplication in a fetus with a complicated persistent cloaca. This is a rare anomaly where the products of the gastrointestinal, urinary, and genital tracts empty into a common channel with a single perineal opening. Prenatal ultrasound appearance is compared with a postnatal sonogram and contrast studies, which confirmed the prenatal diagnosis.

Tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II (Langer-Giedion) with persistent cloaca and prune belly sequence in a girl with 8q interstitial deletion

A patient with the diagnosis of Langer-Giedion syndrome (tricho-rhino-phalangeal syndrome type II) and interstitial 8q deletion was also noted to have persistent cloaca and prune belly sequence. This is the first report of this association. If it postulated that these latter embryonic defects may be due to the chromosome abnormality, supporting the definition of contiguous gene syndrome.

The surgical management of persistent cloaca: results in 54 patients treated with a posterior sagittal approach

This report describes the author's personal experience in the surgical treatment of 54 patients. The approach is called posterior sagittal ano recto vagino urethroplasty (PSARVUP). Forty patients underwent a primary procedure, and 14 a secondary operation. The anatomic variations found were multiple, integrating a wide spectrum of defects. The posterior sagittal approach proved to be a good initial approach, and permitted complete repair of the defect in 47 patients. Seven patients required a laparotomy in addition. The length of the common channel varied from 0.5 to 7 cm. Common channels longer than 3 cm usually required some technical alternative to replace the vagina. In at least 34 cases, the vagina was reconstructed primarily without any additional technical manoeuvres. Different degrees of vaginal and uterine septation were found in 25 of 50 cases. Hydrocolpos was an associated defect in 14 of 49 patients. Sixty-eight percent of the patients had an important associated urological defect. Twenty-six patients were clinically evaluated without medical management, twenty-one of whom had voluntary bowel movements by the age of 3 years, but most of them had minor episodes of soiling. Nineteen patients had a normal sacrum, and five had urinary incontinence that was successfully managed by intermittent catheterization. Seven patients had a very abnormal sacrum, and five of them had urinary incontinence. Twenty patients underwent a late postoperative vaginoscopy, 14 of whom showed an adequate introitus and vagina, whereas five had different degrees of narrowing of the introitus. Six patients had a urethrovaginal fistula. One ureter was accidentally divided and one vagina had complete ischaemic necrosis.

Fetal common cloaca--a case report and review

A case is presented in which a huge cystic mass adjacent to the outline of a 29-wk fetus was identified by ultrasonography. After delivery this was proven to be a common cloaca in a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies. The possible mechanisms of this anomaly are discussed.

Urologic management in cloacal dysgenesis

Eleven cases of cloacal dysgenesis from the experience in the Baylor affiliated hospitals from 1969 to 1977 are reviewed. Clinical features including radiographic studies are presented in representative case reports. Despite the initial urgent need for intestinal surgical intervention in these patients, the long-term morbidity and complications are typically related to the genitourinary system. A review of the literature with emphasis on embryogenesis is given. Recommendations for diagnostic approach, and acute and long-term urologic management are made.

Urologic implications of imperforate anus

Recent clinical studies have documented the high association of genitourinary and lumbosacral spine anomalies with imperforate anus. Many of these associated anomalies may go undetected unless special diagnostic studies are performed, and these genitourinary anomalies can be the cause of significant clinical morbidity in later life if not managed properly initially. All neonates with imperforate anus should therefore undergo radiographic examination with lower spine films, intravenous pyelography and voiding cystourethrography, and cystoscopy should be reserved for those with cloaca deformity or those whose x-ray films demonstrate urinary anomalies requiring further workup. Significant morbidity involving the genitourinary tract may be encountered after surgical treatment of the anorectal anomaly, particularly if total anorectal reconstructions are performed in the neonatal period.

Principles of management of the persistent cloaca in the female newborn

The persistent cloaca in the female newborn is one of the most complex and challenging developmental malformations that the pediatric urologist will encounter. A review of 5 patients seen at this center and 34 completely documented cases was undertaken to characterize the defects and devise a logical diagnostic and therapeutic approach. Diagnostic steps include the search for associated anomalies, which were present in the upper urinary tract (33 per cent), gastrointestinal tract (13 per cent), cardiovascular system (13 per cent), central nervous system (10 per cent) and respiratory tract (5 per cent). Delineation of the cloaca and its anatomic relationships is determined by abdominal x-rays, injection of contrast material into the cloacal channel, excretory urography and endoscopy with selective catheterization. Surgical treatment begins with a diverting right transverse colostomy in the newborn period followed by rectal pull-through when the patient weighs 25 pounds. Vaginal pull-through should be performed at the same time as the rectal pull-through if the vagina enters the cloaca high. If the cloacovaginal communication is low a vaginoplasty by a posterior flap procedure can be done when the child is 10 to 12 years old. Even is anatomy is reconstructed in an ideal manner urinary and fecal continence cannot be assured since congenital neurologic dysfunction is not uncommon.