Management of ectopia vesica in Ibadan: an 8-year review.

CONTEXT: The management of children with ectopia vesica is intricate and complex. Repair of the bladder soon after delivery is desirable, particularly in our environment as the social stigma associated with such an anomaly can lead to child abandonment or infanticide.

OBJECTIVE

To report our experience in the management of children with ectopia vesica at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, over an 8-year period.

STUDY DESIGN, SETTING AND SUBJECTS: All children who presented at the UCH, Ibadan between January 1995 and December 2002 with ectopia vesica had the bladder closed primarily. The children that presented between 1995 and 1998 had the symphysial diastasis approximated with no. 1 nylon suture, while those that presented subsequently had the muscle and fascial layer closed with a darning suture of no. 1 nylon.

RESULT: A total of 13 children presented with ectopia vesica during the period of the study. The bladder was closed in all cases. Abdominal wound dehiscence occurred less frequently in patients who had darning suture approximation of the muscle and fascial layer, compared with those who had simple symphysial approximation with nylon suture.

CONCLUSION

The result of immediate bladder closure in children with ectopia vesica can be satisfactory in this environment. There is a need for continuing experience in the management of these children to improve outcome.