Mini-invasive surgery on the lower urinary tract for neuromuscular bladder dysfunction in children

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of urinary incontinence in neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder is quite serious considering the significant medical and social aspects. That is why an active search for methods of urinary continence, including those minimized operational trauma in childhood along with the achievement of maximum efficiency, is being conducted. Special attention should be given to the bladder neck reconstruction methods. When choosing a method for surgical treatment of urinary incontinence with underlying neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children, the degree of bladder innervation damage must be considered. One of the minimally invasive techniques used for urinary incontinence treatment is periurethral injections of bulking agents. However, according to the research literature, this method is rather ineffective (about 30%) and makes it difficult to use the alternative bladder neck reconstruction methods in the future.

Objective: to study the safety and efficiency of the use of such minimally invasive surgical interventions on the bladder neck as periurethral injection of bulking agents in the treatment for the neuromuscular bladder dysfunction in children.

Materials and methods. The first outcome of the minimally invasive surgical interventions, namely periurethral injections of bulk agents, in the treatment for urinary incontinence secondary to neuromuscular bladder dysfunction was analysed in 5 children who were treated at Surgical Department No. 2 of Zhytomyr Regional Children's Clinical Hospital. In total 6 surgical interventions (one child was operated twice) were performed.

Results. As a bulking agent injected periurethraly, polyacryamide hydrogel was used. The mean volume of injected bulking agent was 1.87±0.15 ml. It was found that 1 (20%) patients had dry periods between urination, 2 (40%) had urinary continence during one hour after urination and there were no clinically significant signs of urinary continence in 2 (40%) patients. Any complications after the usage of the specified method were not observed.

Conclusions. Minimally invasive surgical interventions can be used for neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder in children. However, the indications for the procedure should be highly individualised, taking into account the features and nature of urinary incontinence associated with bladder dysfunction. The disappointing outcomes of the bulking agents usage for periurethral injections in childhood should encourage researchers to search for new efficient nontraumatic methods for treating neuromuscular dysfunction of the bladder.