Penile Disassembly in Complete Primary Repair of Bladder Exstrophy: Time for Re-evaluation?

OBJECTIVE

To explore a series of classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) cases referred to the authors' institution where primary closure with penile disassembly epispadias repair was complicated by penile injury. The penile disassembly technique is frequently combined with bladder closure in patients with CBE undergoing the complete primary repair of exstrophy (CPRE). Penile disassembly has been posited as a risk for penile injury by ischemic mechanisms.

METHODS

A prospectively-maintained institutional database of 1337 exstrophy-epispadias complex patients was reviewed for CPRE cases referred to the authors' institution, and those with injury to the penis were identified. The location, extent of injury, and subsequent management is reported.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirteen male CBE patients were referred after prior CPRE. Twenty-six (20%) were identified with penile loss and reviewed. Eighty-one percent were closed in the neonatal period, and 54% had a pelvic osteotomy. Median follow-up time was 9.9 years (range 0.6-21.3). Of 26 patients with penile loss, 77% had unilateral loss and in 23% had bilateral loss involving the glans and/or one or both corpora cavernosa. Three patients were successfully managed with myocutaneous neophalloplasty.

CONCLUSION

Complete penile disassembly during bladder exstrophy closure may lead to penile injury. This major complication questions the continued application of complete penile disassembly in the reconstruction of bladder exstrophy.

The dual-staged pathway for closure in cloacal exstrophy: Successful evolution in collaborative surgical practice

INTRODUCTION

A successful abdominal wall and bladder closure is critical in the management of cloacal exstrophy (CE). This study examines closure outcomes and practices over the last 4 decades at the authors' institution. Beginning in 1995, the authors' institution standardized CE closure and management with the Dual-Staged Pathway (DSP). The DSP consists of a staged bladder closure, a staged or concurrent osteotomy, and postoperative immobilization with external fixation. The authors hypothesize that the DSP has provided better outcomes in CE closures.

METHODS

A prospective database of 1332 Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (EEC) patients was reviewed for CE patients closed between 1975 and 2015. The DSP consists of a staged osteotomy and a staged bladder closure in CE patients with a diastasis greater than 4 cm. To evaluate the DSP, outcomes of closure at the authors' institution were compared between two equal, twenty-year periods before and after its implementation. Data on timing of closure, postoperative management, surgical complications, and outcomes were collected.

RESULTS

There are 142 CE patients in the database. In this study, 49 CE patients with 50 closures met inclusion criteria. The overall success rate of closures from 1975 to 1994 was 88% (14 of 16), while the success rate of the DSP was 100% (n = 34), p = 0.098. Twenty-two (65%) primary and 12 (35%) secondary closures were performed using the DSP. Overall complication rates of the DSP remained similar to previous closures, (29% vs 19%, p = 0.508). Since incorporation of the DSP, patients referred for closure have generally had a larger preclosure diastasis (7.2 cm vs 5.1 cm, p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

The standardized DSP closure has proven successful in 34 primary and reoperative cloacal closures in the past 20 years. With this approach, the authors feel that the DSP offers greater patient safety and better outcomes.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, retrospective comparative study.

Impact of pelvic immobilization techniques on the outcomes of primary and secondary closures of classic bladder exstrophy

INTRODUCTION

A potential determinant of successful bladder closures in patients with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is the postoperative pelvic immobilization technique. This study investigates the success rates of primary and secondary bladder closures based on various immobilization techniques from a high-volume exstrophy center.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained institutional exstrophy-epispadias complex database of 1336 patients was reviewed for patients with CBE who have undergone primary or secondary closures between 1975 and 2018 and subsequently had a known method of pelvic immobilization. Patients were divided into two groups: primary and secondary closures. Associations between closure outcomes and immobilization techniques were determined.

RESULTS

A total of 476 patients with primary closures and 101 patients with secondary closures met the inclusion criteria. In total, 343 (72.1%) primary closures were successful. As shown in the table, the success rates of primary closures were highest in patients immobilized with modified Buck's and Bryant's traction (95.0% and 79.3%, respectively) and lowest in those with spica cast (49.6%). A propensity score-adjusted logistic regression (adjusting for osteotomy status, period of closure, location of closure, and closure type) revealed that modified Buck's traction had a 5.60 (95% confidence interval 1.74-23.1, p = 0.008) greater odds of success compared to spica casting during the primary closure. For the secondary closure group, there were 92 (92.1%) successful secondary closures. Success rates were highest in modified Buck's traction (97.3%) and lowest with spica casting (66.7%).

DISCUSSION

This study confirms previous findings of better outcomes when patients are immobilized with external fixation and Buck's traction after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Immobilization with modified Buck's or Bryant's traction yielded significantly higher primary closure success rates when compared to spica casting. It is the authors' belief that despite a longer hospital length of stay, external fixation with Buck's traction provides the best chance of a successful closure and, thus, a financially responsible method to care for these children in the postoperative period.

CONCLUSIONS

Success rates for primary closures were highest when using modified Buck's traction with external fixation and lowest for spica casts. Similarly, for secondary closures, the best outcomes were achieved using modified Buck's traction with external fixation and the lowest success rates were associated with spica casts.

A Prospective Study of the Urinary and Gastrointestinal Microbiome in Prepubertal Males

OBJECTIVE

To determine if urinary microbial communities similar to those described in adults exist in children and to profile the urinary and gastrointestinal microbiome in children presenting to urology for both routine and complex urologic procedures.

METHODS

Prepubertal boys (n = 20, ages 3 months-8 years; median age 15 months) who required elective urologic procedures were eligible. Urine samples were collected via sterile catheterization and fecal samples were obtained by rectal swabs. DNA was extracted from urine pellet and fecal samples and subjected to bacterial profiling via 16S rDNA Illumina sequencing and 16S rDNA quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We assessed within and between sample diversity and differential species abundance between samples.

RESULTS

Urine samples had low bacterial biomass that reflected the presence of bacterial populations. The most abundant genera detected in urine samples are not common to skin microbiota and several of the genera have been previously identified in the urinary microbiome of adults. We report presumably atypical compositional differences in both the urinary and gastrointestinal microbiome in children with prior antibiotic exposure and highlight an important case of a child who had undergone lifelong antibiotic treatment as prophylaxis for congenital abnormalities.

CONCLUSION

This study provides one of the first characterizations of the urinary microbiome in prepubertal males. Defining the baseline healthy microbiome in children may lay the foundation for understanding the long-term impact of factors such as antibiotic use in the development of a healthy microbiome as well as the development of future urologic and gastrointestinal diseases.

Predictors of a successful primary bladder closure in cloacal exstrophy: A multivariable analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the factors affecting primary bladder closure in cloacal exstrophy (CE). A successful primary closure is important for optimizing reconstructive outcomes, and it is a critical first-step in the reconstruction of CE. The authors' hypothesize that a smaller diastasis and use of an osteotomy are independent predictors of a successful closure.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained database of 1332 exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) patients was reviewed for CE patients closed between 1975 and 2015. Univariate and multivariable analyses were performed to identify significant factors associated with CE primary bladder closure.

RESULTS

Of 143 CE patients identified, 99 patients met inclusion criteria. Median follow-up time was 8.82 [IQR 5.43-14.26] years. In the multivariable model, the odds of having a successful closure are about 4 times greater for the staged cloacal approach compared to the 1-stage approach (OR, 3.7; 95% CI 1.2-11.5; p-value = 0.023). Also, having an osteotomy increases the chance of a successful closure by almost six-fold (OR, 5.8; 95% CI 1.7-19.6; p-value = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

Using the staged approach with a pelvic osteotomy is paramount to a successful primary closure in CE. The authors strongly recommend using the staged approach and osteotomy as these factors independently increase the chance for a successful primary bladder closure.

STUDY TYPE

Therapeutic study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, Retrospective comparative study.

Variant Presentations of the Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex: A 40-Year Experience

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the diagnosis, surgical management, and outcomes in patients with variant EEC. Variant presentations of the exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) span a wide range of abnormalities. The rarity and diversity of EEC variants can lead to challenges in the diagnosis and subsequent management of this population.

METHODS

The authors reviewed an institutional database of 1336 EEC patients from 1975 to 2018 for variant presentations of EEC. Variant presentations included those with skin covered bladder exstrophy (BE), duplicate bladders, superior vesical fistula, and epispadias with major bladder prolapse. Surgical management and outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

In total, 44 EEC variants were identified. Nineteen (43%) presented with a skin-covered BE variant. Five patients presented with duplicate BE, while 6 presented with superior vesical fistula. Fourteen patients (32%) presented with epispadias with major bladder prolapse. Overall, 36 (82%) EEC variants underwent primary bladder closure, at a median of 135 days after birth (range 1-2010), with 21 (58%) undergoing pelvic osteotomy. Primary closures were successful in 89% of cases. Continence procedures were performed in 17 patients. This includes 5 patients who underwent bladder augmentation. However even without a continence procedure, continence with volitional voiding was found in 8 patients.

CONCLUSION

The most common EEC variant is the skin-covered form of BE. In order to expedite appropriate management, accurate diagnosis upon initial presentation is crucial. Still, successful surgical reconstruction often results in continence that is similar to, or better than, nonvariant EEC presentations.

Modern Management of the Failed Bladder Exstrophy Closure: A 50-yr Experience

BACKGROUND

A failed closure of classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) has a negative long-term impact on the patient and the health care system.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the outcomes of CBE patients with failed primary bladder closure.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A database of 1317 exstrophy-epispadias complex patients was retrospectively reviewed for CBE patients with failed primary bladder closure from 1965 to 2017 with subsequent repeat closure.

INTERVENTION

Repeat bladder exstrophy closure and subsequent continence procedure.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Failed exstrophy closures are defined as occurrence of bladder prolapse, dehiscence, vesicocutaneous fistula, outlet obstruction, or combination of these factors. Successful repeat closures are defined as closures that require no further operative intervention as a consequence of these factors. Kaplan-Meier to determine time to successful repeat closure and receiver operator characteristic curve to determine the optimal time for secondary closure were determined.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

In total, 170 CBE patients had at least one repeat closure following a failed primary closure (115 male/55 female). With continued closure attempts, 166/170 (97.6%) patients were successfully closed. The median time to successful closure from birth was 12.9 mo (95% confidence interval: 11.7-15.7). Furthermore, 52/153 (34%) patients had more than one osteotomy. Of 215 total osteotomies, 50 (29.4%) were performed during the 170 failed primary closures, 128 (75.3%) during the 170second closures, and 27 (64.3%) during the 42 third closures. Of 96 patients with available continence data, 74 (77.1%) achieved urinary continence.

CONCLUSIONS

A successful repeat closure is possible, especially when used in conjunction with a pelvic osteotomy. Continent urinary diversion yielded the highest continence rate in this cohort.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We looked at outcomes of classic bladder exstrophy closure in a large population. Successful repeat closure is possible in the majority of cases when used with pelvic osteotomy. A majority of patients achieved urinary continence using a continent diversion.

Achieving urinary continence in cloacal exstrophy: The surgical cost

INTRODUCTION

Cloacal exstrophy (CE) is a severe midline congenital abnormality that requires numerous surgical corrections to achieve an acceptable quality of life. Candidates for urinary continence undergo multiple procedures, most often continent bladder diversions, to become socially dry. Here, the authors investigate the number of genitourinary interventions that patients with CE undergo to attain urinary continence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of 1311 exstrophy epispadias complex patients was performed. Patients with CE who have had at least one continence procedure were included. A continence procedure was defined as bladder neck reconstruction with or without augmentation, bladder neck transection with continent urinary diversion, augmentation cystoplasty, or use of injectable bulking agents. Continence was defined as a dry interval greater than 3 hours without leakage at night.

RESULTS

In total, 140 CE and CE variant patients have been managed at the authors' institution. Of the 116 CE patients, 59 received at least one continence procedure, 14 were excluded for incontinent diversion or cystectomy, and the remaining 43 patients are awaiting a continence procedure. At the time of analysis, 42 (71%) patients who underwent a continence procedure were dry. The median number of total urologic procedures to reach urinary continence was 4 (range 2-10). This included 1 bladder closure (range 1-3), 2 urinary continence procedures (range 1-4), and 1 (range 0-4) "other" genitourinary procedures. The median time to urinary continence was 11.0 years (95% CI [9.2-14.2]).

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of CE patients who undergo a diversion procedure can achieve urinary continence. However multiple continence procedures are likely necessary. Of patients who are candidates for a continence procedure, half will be continent by the age of 11.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, Case series with no comparison group.

The intravesical phallus in patients with cloacal exstrophy: An embryologic conundrum

BACKGROUND

Phalluses present inside the extrophied bladder of cloacal exstrophy (CE) newborns have been sporadically reported in the literature; this clinical entity has largely unknown origins and may represent an extremely rare anomaly of CE.

OBJECTIVE

Along with nearly doubling the number of reported intravesical phalluses in the literature, this study aims to outline the common anatomic features and discuss the implications for theories of CE embryogenesis.

STUDY DESIGN

The authors retrospectively identified patients with CE and a potential intravesical phallus between 1997 and 2017 at two high-volume centers. Information was obtained about karyotype, age at closure, neurologic and renal anomalies, diastasis, phallus anatomy, and phallus biopsy pathology.

RESULTS

Six genotypic males met the inclusion criteria. Five of six had a diastasis greater than 6 cm. Four of six had paired corporal bodies in the intravesical phallus, one had a single corporal body, and one had a corporal-like structure. Five of six patients had a phallus located midline in the caudal aspect of the bladder; one was located midline in the bladder dome. Phallic biopsies were obtained in three of six patients. Two showed glanular and corporal tissue while the other showed vascular proliferation morphologically similar to that of erectile tissue.

DISCUSSION

Previous reports suggested that a superior vesicle fissure configuration, fusion of the corporal bodies, and fused bladder plates were common findings with an intravesical phallus. With the addition of new cases, the only consistent variable between patients is a phallus located anywhere along the bladder plate that can comprise a corporal-like structure, a single corporal body, or fused corporal bodies. These findings have implications for several embryologic theories. Although this is a retrospective review with a limited number of patients, the condition is exceedingly infrequent making it only observable retrospectively over decades at high volume centers.

CONCLUSIONS

The study outlined common anatomic features of the intravesical phallus in cloacal exstrophy and discussed the subsequent embryologic implications. In cloacal exstrophy newborns with presumed aphallia, meticulous inspection of the bladder plate and biopsy of any potential phallic structures can prevent resection of phallic tissue.

Predictors and outcomes of perioperative blood transfusions in classic bladder exstrophy repair: A single institution study

BACKGROUND

Primary bladder closure of classic bladder exstrophy (CBE) is a major operation that occasionally requires intraoperative or postoperative (within 72 h) blood transfusions.

OBJECTIVE

This study reported perioperative transfusion rates, risk factors for transfusion, and outcomes from a high-volume exstrophy center in primary bladder closure of CBE patients.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospectively maintained, institutional exstrophy-epispadias complex database of 1305 patients was reviewed for primary CBE closures performed at the authors' institution (Johns Hopkins Hospital) between 1993 and 2017. Patient and surgical factors were analyzed to determine transfusion rates, risk factors for transfusions, and outcomes. Patients were subdivided into two groups based upon the time of closure: neonatal and delayed closure.

RESULTS

A total of 116 patients had a primary bladder closure during 1993-2017. Seventy-three patients were closed in the neonatal period, and 43 were delayed closures. In total, 64 (55%) patients received perioperative transfusions. No transfusion reactions were observed. Twenty-five transfusions were in the neonatal closure group, yielding a transfusion rate of 34%. In comparison, 39 patients were transfused in the delayed closure group, giving a transfusion rate of 91%. Pelvic osteotomy, delayed bladder closure, higher estimated blood loss (EBL), larger pubic diastasis, and longer operative time were all associated with blood transfusion. In multivariable logistic regression, pelvic osteotomy (OR 5.4; 95% CI 1.3-22.8; P < 0.001), higher EBL-to-weight ratio (OR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6; P = 0.029), and more recent years of primary closure (OR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0-1.2; P = 0.018) remained independent predictors of receiving a transfusion (Summary Table). No adverse transfusion reactions or complications were observed.

DISCUSSION

This was the first study from a single high-volume exstrophy center to explore factors that contribute to perioperative blood transfusions. Pelvic osteotomy as a risk factor was unsurprising, as the osteotomy may bleed both during and immediately after closure. However, it is important to use osteotomy for successful closure, despite the increased transfusion risk. The risks accompanying contemporary transfusions are minimal and osteotomies are imperative for successful bladder closure.

CONCLUSIONS

More than half of CBE patients undergoing primary closure at a single institution received perioperative blood transfusions. While there was an association between transfusions and osteotomy, delayed primary closure, larger diastasis, increased operative time, and increased length of stay, only the use of pelvic osteotomy, higher EBL-to-weight ratio, and recent year of closure independently increased the odds of receiving a transfusion on multivariate analysis.

The Role of Human Acellular Dermis in Preventing Fistulas After Bladder Neck Transection in the Exstrophy-epispadias Complex

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate human acellular dermis (HAD) as an adjunct during bladder neck transection (BNT) by comparing surgical outcomes with other types of tissue interposition.

METHODS

A prospectively maintained institutional database of exstrophy-epispadias complex (EEC) patients was reviewed for those who underwent a BNT with at least 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome was the occurrence of BNT-related fistulas.

RESULTS

In total, 147 EEC patients underwent a BNT with a mean follow-up time of 6.9 years (range 0.52-23.35 years). There were 124 (84.4%) classic exstrophy patients, 22 (15.0%) cloacal exstrophy patients, and 1 (0.7%) penopubic epispadias patient. A total of 12 (8.2%) BNTs resulted in fistulization, including 4 vesicoperineal fistulas, 7 vesicourethral fistulas, and 1 vesicovaginal fistula. There were 5 (22.7%) fistulas in the cloacal exstrophy cohort and 7 (5.6%) fistulas in the classic bladder exstrophy cohort (P = .019). Using either HAD or native tissue flaps resulted in a lower fistulization rate than using no interposed layers (5.8% vs 20.8%; P = .039). Of those with HAD, the use of a fibrin sealant did not decrease fistulization rates when compared to HAD alone (6.5% vs 8.8%, P = .695). There was no statistical difference in surgical complications between the use of HAD and native flaps (8.6% vs 5%, P = .716).

CONCLUSION

Use of soft tissue flaps and HAD is associated with decreased fistulization rates after BNT. HAD is a simple option and an effective adjunct that does not require harvesting of tissues in patients where a native flap is not feasible.

Bladder Re-augmentation in Classic Bladder Exstrophy: Risk Factors and Prevention

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the causes of re-augmentation in patients with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE).

METHODS

A prospectively maintained institutional database of 1327 exstrophy-epispadias complex patients was reviewed for patients with CBE who underwent more than 1 augmentation cystoplasty (AC) procedure. Data regarding bladder capacities, complications following AC, and reasons for re-augmentation were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 166 patients with CBE underwent AC. Of these, 67 (40.4%) were included in the control group and 17 (10%) patients underwent a re-augmentation. There were several indications for re-augmentation including continued small bladder capacity (17 of 17), inadequate bladder necks (8 of 17), failed rattail augmentation (2 of 17), stomal incontinence (1 of 17), a urethrocutaneous fistula (1 of 17), and an hourglass augmentation (1 of 17). Of note, 5 of the 17 patients (29%) had a re-augmentation procedure with a ureteral reimplantation. The sigmoid colon was the most commonly used bowel segment in the failed initial AC (8 patients), whereas the ileum was the most commonly used segment during re-augmentation (12 patients). In the re-augmentation cohort, the mean amount of bowel used during the first AC procedure was 12 cm (standard deviation [SD] 3.6) compared with 19 cm (SD 5.0) during re-augmentation. The mean amount of bowel used for control group augmentations was 20.8 cm (SD 4). The mean re-augmentation preoperative bladder capacity of 100 mL (SD 60) immediately increased after re-augmentation to 180.8 mL (SD 56.4) (P = .0001).

CONCLUSION

Bladder re-augmentation is most commonly required in the setting of a small bladder capacity after an initial AC, when an insufficient amount of bowel is used during the first AC procedure.