Enterocystoplasty complications in children. A study of 30 cases.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Bladder augmentation for small vesical capacity represents an important aid to these patients, but the appearance of complications is not rare. We analysed the complications of the enterocystoplasty techniques used in our Department.

METHODS

From 1983 to 1997 sixteen girls and fourteen boys were treated. We performed 28 bladder augmentations (in 13 cases using small bowel, in one case using ileum and caecum and in 14 cases using sigmoid colon) and 2 bladder substitutions (in one case with ileum and sigmoid colon and in the second using a colonic segment).

RESULTS

Twelve children present recurrent urinary infections. In five children bladder stones were formed (among them a case of familial cystinuria-lysinuria). Two children presented intestinal volvulus and another one a caecal volvulus. In two children a perforation of the augmented bladder was treated operatively. An 11-years-old child presented severe electrolyte disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

The complications presented in our patients confirm the view that they are associated with intestinal mucosa in the bladder and our study proves, once more, the current necessity to seek alternative tissues for bladder augmentation.