OBJECTIVE:A systemic review of published literature on the use of bulking agents in the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in patients with duplex systems was performed in order to evaluate the diagnostic challenges; determine success rates, and compare with use in single systems; and evaluate safety, in particular of Deflux. METHODS:A PubMed/Medline search was conducted for index articles discussing duplex ureters published in 1963-2007. All types of publications were included. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed. RESULTS:Overall, 28 different treatment arms originating in 17 separate studies (19 publications) satisfied the inclusion criteria for linear regression efficacy analysis. Data were available on 2879 patients: 2400 with single and 479 with duplex systems. Ten publications provided information on the frequency of failure to diagnose duplex systems using specific techniques. An overall 18% failure rate to detect duplex systems was reported for combined techniques. For patients in whom favorable anatomic location of ureters allowed successful endoscopic injection of a bulking agent, correction of VUR was achieved in 53-100% of cases. A univariant analysis showed no difference in success rate between single and duplex systems with the use of Deflux, or other bulking agent. The predicted probability of success in a single system was 68% and in a duplex system 64%. CONCLUSIONS:There is significant potential for failing to detect duplex systems prior to preparing an individual for either open or endoscopic treatment. From the studies available, endoscopic injection of bulking agents is highly successful in correcting mild-to-moderate VUR in duplex systems, with no reports of serious or clinically significant adverse effects. At a minimum, duplex systems would not seem to be a contraindication to the use of Deflux or any other bulking agent.

Purpose: We review our 23-year experience with bowel vaginoplasty, with particular attention to postoperative quality of life and sexual function.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 57 patients who underwent bowel replacement vaginoplasty between 1980 and 2004. A total of 42 patients had the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome, of whom 6 had varying forms of intersexuality, 6 had undergone surgery for pelvic malignancy, 1 had aphallia, 1 had cloacal exstrophy and 1 was the survivor of a conjoined twin separation. Replacement vaginoplasty was done using sigmoid colon in 39 patients, ileum in 9 and cecum in 9. Followup ranged from IS months to 24 years, with a mean of 8.8 years. Outcome was evaluated by retrospective chart review, and the FSDQ, a validated, IRB approved instrument, was used to evaluate postoperative sexual function.Results: Among the 57 patients postoperative sexual function was evaluated in 44, 9 were lost to followup and 4 were considered too young for evaluation. Of the 44 patients 36 responded to the FSDQ, 6 refused and 2 were unable to complete the questionnaire adequately. Of the 36 patients who responded 15 were married and 31 were sexually active. On a scale of 0 to 5, 28 patients (78%) reported sexual desire, 33% sexual arousal, 33% sexual confidence and 28 (78%) sexual satisfaction. In addition, 20 patients (56%) reported frequent orgasms, 8 (22%) occasional orgasms and 8 (22%) no orgasms. A total of 32 patients (89%) reported adequate lubrication for intercourse and 2 reported dyspareunia. Two of the 36 patients performed home dilation and required estrogen suppositories. A total of 34 patients used home douching and 20 required pads for mucus production.Conclusions: It appears that isolated bowel segments provided excellent tissue for vaginal replacement. For technical reasons we believe that colonic segments, particularly sigmoid, are preferable to small bowel. Sexual function following bowel vaginoplasty appears to be adequate and durable.

OBJECTIVETo assess the obstetric and urological outcomes during and after pregnancy following urinary tract reconstruction, as pregnancies after such surgery can have a significant effect on the function of the reconstructed urinary tract, and the reconstruction can significantly affect the delivery of the fetus.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the obstetric and urological history of 11 patients (12 pregnancies; 10 singletons and one twin) with previous urinary reconstruction, delivered between 1989 and 2003. Antepartum and postpartum urological function and obstetric outcomes were investigated.RESULTSAll the patients had some difficulty with clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) during pregnancy, and four needed continuous indwelling catheters. During pregnancy 10 women had several bladder infections and all received antibiotic suppression. There were eight Caesarean sections, two vaginal deliveries and one combined delivery. Six Caesareans were elective and three were emergent. The use of CIC returned to normal in all patients after delivery.CONCLUSIONSWomen with a urinary reconstruction can have successful pregnancies. The complexity of the surgery and the concern for possible emergency Caesarean section resulted in most patients having an elective Caesarean delivery before term. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended and patients may require indwelling dwelling catheters while pregnant but normal CIC can be resumed after delivery.

PURPOSE:To evaluate long-term results and complications we reviewed the records of 42 consecutive men 18 to 47 years old (mean age 22.5) who underwent hypospadias repair between 1979 and 1999.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The study population was divided into groups 1 consisting of 8 patients without previous hypospadias surgery, 2 consisting of 12 who underwent 1 or more procedures in childhood but in whom local tissue was relatively intact and 3 consisting of 22 who underwent multiple unsuccessful hypospadias repairs with various degrees of penile deformity and loss of local tissue.RESULTS:Complications were noted in 3 of 8 (37.5%), 5 of 12 (41.67%) and 14 of 22 (63.6%) patients in groups 1 to 3, including 3 (100%), 4 (80%) and 10 (71.4%), respectively, in whom secondary surgery was successful in the long term. A patient in group 2 and 2 in group 3 await further surgery, while 2 in group 3 were lost to followup. Overall primary complications developed in 22 of the 42 men (52.3%) and 5 of the 22 (22.7%) had secondary complications. There was long-term success in 37 of 42 cases (88.1%).CONCLUSIONS:The results of hypospadias repair in adulthood differ from the results of similar procedures in childhood. Although the various techniques are similar, there is clearly a difference in terms of wound healing, infection, complication rates and overall success. Adults undergoing hypospadias repair must be counseled on all of these variables to avoid unreasonable expectations.

OBJECTIVEThere are many different approaches to vaginal reconstruction. Methods include simple dilatation, skin grafts techniques, amnion grafts and the use of bowel segments for vaginal replacement.METHODWe herein discuss the most common surgical techniques and present our series of 15 patients who underwent intestinal vaginoplasty with either sigmoid colon or cecum.RESULTSThe complication rate was low, with two patients requiring revision for prolapse. Ten patients are sexually active with only one describing any degree of dyspareunia.CONCLUSIONWhen dealing with vaginal aplasia, intestinal vaginoplasty seems to have clear advantages with an excellent surgical success rate and low incidence of complications.

PURPOSE:Absence of the vagina in the pediatric population most commonly results from congenital abnormalities, such as the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome but it may also be seen after treatment for pelvic tumors, such as rhabdomyosarcoma, and in patients who have had previous gender reassignment. We review our experience using bowel for vaginal replacement in a group of children and young adults to assess outcome and satisfaction. MATERIALS AND METHODS:From 1980 to 1996 we evaluated 31 patients 1 to 20 years old who required vaginal replacement. Presenting diagnoses included müllerian failure (the Mayer-Rokitansky syndrome) in 20 patients, androgen insensitivity syndrome in 5, rhabdomyosarcoma in 3, penile agenesis in 1, cloacal exstrophy in 1 and 1 previously separated conjoint twin. A questionnaire was given to 26 of the 31 patients to assess postoperative sexual function and satisfaction. RESULTS:A total of 33 bowel segments in 31 patients were used for vaginal reconstruction, including sigmoid colon in 20, ileum in 8 and cecum in 5. Of the 31 patients 20 were sexually active, 8 were married and 3 had been previously married and divorced. Only 1 patient described chronic dyspareunia. Three patients were on chronic home dilation, while 4 required sanitary pads for vaginal secretions. There were 8 complications in the 31 patients, including stenosis of the bowel segment in 6. Three patients required a second procedure after total stenosis of the small bowel vagina (2) and prolapse of the neovagina (1), which required retroperitoneal fixation. CONCLUSIONS:Experience with this group of patients leads us to believe that isolated bowel segments provide excellent tissue for vaginal replacement. Furthermore, we believe that colon segments, particularly sigmoid, are preferable to small bowel for creation of the neovagina. In many instances the small bowel mesentery may be too short to provide an adequate, tension-free anastomosis in the perineum, particularly in obese patients. Our results would also suggest that sexual activity is more compatible with isolated bowel segments for vaginal replacement than with any of the more traditional methods, such as passive dilations and split thickness skin graft vaginoplasty.

BACKGROUND:In patients with spina bifida, traditional bowel management programs such as suppositories, retrograde enemas, and manual disimpaction have been largely unsatisfactory. The Malone antegrade continence enema (ACE) procedure has largely changed our approach to bowel management in this patient group. STUDY DESIGN:Over a 3-year period between January 1994 and January 1997, 27 patients with spina bifida underwent the Malone ACE procedure at our institutions. At the time of their ACE procedure, four patients underwent simultaneous continent urinary diversion and three had simultaneous small-bowel bladder augmentation. All the patients were evaluated for 9 months or more after their procedure, and 10 of the patients have been followed for more than 2 years. RESULTS:Postoperatively, predictable bowel control and continence were achieved in 19 of the 27 patients, but 6 had some rectal soiling requiring a sanitary pad. All patients were out of diapers and none reported stomal leakage. Eighteen of the 27 patients were able to manage independently and 9 required assistance. Two patients had stopped using their ACE stoma despite good technical results. The appendix was used as a catheterizable stoma in 15 of the 27 patients. The appendix was not available in 12 patients, so a tubularized cecal flap was used in 9 and a small-bowel neoappendix was created in 3. Complications included stomal stenosis in 5 patients, cecal-flap necrosis in 1, and stomal granulations in 3. CONCLUSIONS:We believe that the ACE procedure provides reliable colonic emptying and avoids fecal soiling in the majority of individuals, and we find it widely and enthusiastically accepted by patients with spina bifida.

Bladder neck closure is not a standard part of continent urinary diversion. When bladder augmentation and continent urinary diversion are done simultaneously, it is frequently convenient and advantageous to leave the native bladder neck intact as long as there is a reasonable degree of intrinsic continence. Even in patients with marginal control the effect of lowering intravesical pressure and increasing intravesical volume will often produce acceptable continence. At times, particularly in patients who have undergone multiple surgical procedures involving the bladder neck, there is poor intrinsic resistance. To provide acceptable continence in these cases bladder neck closure is a necessary part of continent diversion. Between 1990 and 1993 we treated 6 male and 7 female patients, most of whom underwent simultaneous bladder augmentation and continent urinary diversion, and they had poor intrinsic outlet resistance. Patient age ranged from 8 to 22 years. Underlying diagnoses included thoracic myelomeningocele in 5 patients, bladder exstrophy in 5, bladder leiomyosarcoma in 1 and extensive pelvic trauma in 1 as well as 1 previously separated conjoined twin. Three patients had artificial urinary sphincter failure and 3 had failure of urethral sling procedures. A clean intermittent catheterization program had failed in 12 patients and all 13 had diurnal incontinence. Bladder neck and urethral resistance was evaluated using voiding cystourethrography and urodynamics to measure leak point pressure and bladder capacity. Reliable bladder neck closure is historically difficult to achieve and is best done at the time of diversion. We have had initial success in 12 of our 13 cases and subsequently in all 13 using a technique of bladder neck division, 2-layer closure and omental interposition between the bladder neck closure and urethra.

Continent urinary diversion has become a common form of bladder management for the female exstrophy patient in whom primary reconstruction has failed. Reported are the results of successful pregnancies in four young adult females, who had previously undergone a flap vaginoplasty as part of earlier management and more recently a continent right colonic urinary reservoir with a perineal stoma (Indiana pouch). Pregnancy in each of these patients was characterized by several urinary tract infections, cervical prolapse and mild to severe maternal hydronephrosis. All of the patients had some degree of difficulty with clean intermittent catheterization. One patient required an indwelling catheter with prolonged bed rest. Maternal hydronephrosis resolved after delivery in all instances. All four patients delivered their infants by way of cesarean section, either emergently for maternal or fetal distress or electively. Cervical prolapse did not resolve in three patients and will require surgical repair. After delivery, all patients returned to their previous pattern of clean intermittent catheterization without loss of continence. All the infants delivered were healthy with appropriate weights and high Apgar scores (more than 8). Orthotopic (perineal stoma) continent urinary diversion is not a contraindication to pregnancy. However, our experience mandates delivery by cesarean section with close monitoring for maternal or fetal distress during gestation.