Ileal nipple for continence in cloacal exstrophy.

Since 1985, 7 children 2 to 17 years old with urinary incontinence from cloacal exstrophy underwent bladder augmentation and creation of a small bowel nipple at the bladder outlet. There were 3 genetic female and 4 genetic male patients being reared in the female role. In 3 early cases augmentation was done with small bowel, while gastric augmentation was used in 3 later cases and 1 had both types. Six patients became completely dry and they empty by intermittent self-catheterization. In the youngest patient the operation failed because the nipple became infarcted and disappeared. Reoperation will be performed after at least 1 year has passed. In cloacal exstrophy if there is insufficient local tissue to create a bladder neck and urethra, a reversed, catheterizable bowel nipple may be an option to consider.