Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery (FPMRS) challenges on behalf of the collaborative research in pelvic surgery consortium (CoRPS): managing complicated cases series 2: management of urinary incontinence in a neurogenic patient.

Discussion and management of incontinence in a patient with spina bifida by four international experts followed by a literature review.

The vagaries of proper imaging in diagnosing single-system ectopic ureter in children with continuous incontinence and outcomes of simple nephrectomy.

PURPOSE: To investigate the proper diagnostic modalities and failure cases of treatment in patients with single-system ectopic ureter (SSEU) who underwent nephrectomy for incontinence. METHODS: SSEU combined with dysplastic kidney is a rare cause of female incontinence. We retrospectively analyzed 45 pediatric SSEU patients that underwent simple nephrectomy at our institution during 1996-2013 for incontinence. We reviewed imaging studies to detect dysplastic kidney and ectopic ureter insertion, postoperative results, and urodynamic findings for remaining incontinence after nephrectomy. RESULTS: Median operative age was 59.3months. Both ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed 50.0% dysplastic kidney detection rates respectively. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scanning and computerized tomography (CT) showed equal detection rates of 95.5%. Ectopic ureter insertion sites were determined by ultrasonography, CT, and MRI in 17.5%, 13.6%, and 33.3% of patients, respectively. Renal vascular structures were identified in 3/22 patients (13.6%) with CT. Post-nephrectomy, incontinence disappeared in 41 patients (91.1%), but remained in 4 patients (8.9%); urodynamics suggested bladder neck incompetence in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: DMSA is a highly sensitive diagnostic modality for detecting dysplastic kidney in SSEU patients with more than 95% detection rates. Once detected by DMSA, additional CT or MRI studies do not provide further information about ectopic ureter insertion or renal vascular structure. Although nephrectomy is successful in nearly 90% of SSEU patients with dysplastic kidneys, postoperative incontinence occasionally remains and requires additional treatment.

Evaluation of transcutaneous electrical posterior tibial nerve stimulation for the treatment of fecal and urinary leaks in children: preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) for the treatment of fecal and urinary incontinence in children with malformations of the bowel or neurological pathologies. INTRODUCTION: Treatment of fecal and urinary leaks, in cases of congenital malformations remains a challenge. Recent studies in adults have shown the effectiveness of PTNS. METHOD: Eight children: 4 with anorectal malformations, 3 with neurological causes (1 medullary lipoma, 1 Arnold Chiari malformation, 1 sacrococcygeal teratoma) and 1 with Hirschsprung's disease presenting with serious anal incontinence, despite extensive bowel management during at least 2 years, were treated with PTNS. Six children had associated urinary leaks. Jorge-Wexner score for defecation and Schurch score for urine were used before treatment and after the second and sixth months of stimulation. RESULTS: After six months, five patients had no more fecal leakage, two patients were improved and one did not respond. Five out of the 6 patients with urinary leaks were continent at 6 months. CONCLUSION: PTNS is a noninvasive technique and painless modality which seems to be effective for the treatment of fecal and urinary leaks in children even with congenital digestive pathologies or neurological malformations. These results will be confirmed in a prospective study.

The Manchester-Fothergill and the Elevate Posterior technique for the correction of a cervical elongation and large enterocele in a patient with bladder exstrophy and multiple surgeries.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: A 60-year-old woman presented with congenital bladder exstrophy, urinary incontinence since birth, and pelvic organ prolapse since the menopause at the age of 46 years. METHODS: The patient (gravida 2, para 2 by cesarean sections and tubal ligation) described an extensive past surgical history that included epispadias and neourethral procedures, anti-reflux surgery using the Lich-Grégoir technique, bilateral ureterosigmoidostomy achieving continence, uterine fixation after the Doléris operation, and neovaginal reconstruction. The physical examination revealed a fourth-degree enterocele with cervical elongation (POP-Q: Aa-2, Ba-2, C + 3, D + 4, gh:5, pb:2.5, Tvl:6, Ap + 3, Bp +6). Gynecological ultrasound and uro-CT were performed to ensure that the ureterosigmoidostomy had been successful, and CT-based 3D bone reconstructions were obtained to calculate the distance between the pubic rami and the ischial spines. Based on a literature review of the management options for these patients and the specific characteristics of our patient, a decision was made to perform trachelectomy (the Manchester technique with Fothergill stitches) and a polypropylene mesh placement with sacrospinous ligament anchor (Elevate Posterior® PC, AMS). RESULTS: Six months after the surgery, we observed good anatomical and functional results with significant improvement in the patient's quality-of-life scale score. CONCLUSION: We believed that the vaginal approach was minimally invasive with a low risk of morbidity in our patient, who had a very altered anatomy, but produced a satisfactory functional result.

International Children's Continence Society's recommendations for therapeutic intervention in congenital neuropathic bladder and bowel dysfunction in children.

PURPOSE: We present a consensus view of members of the International Children's Continence Society on the therapeutic intervention in congenital neuropatic bladder and bowel dysfunction in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Discussions were held by a group of pediatric urologists and gastroenterologists appointed by the board. The following draft review document was open to all the ICCS members via the ICCS web site. Feedback was considered by the core authors and by agreement, amendments were made as necessary. The final document is not a systematic literature review. It includes relevant research when available as well as expert opinion on the current understanding of therapeutic intervention in congenital neuropatic bladder and bowel dysfunction in children. RESULTS: Guidelines on pharmalogical and surgical intervention are presented. First the multiple modalities for intervention that do not involve surgical reconstruction are summarized concerning pharmacological agents, medical devices, and neuromodulation. The non-surgical intervention is promoted before undertaking major surgery. Indicators for non-surgical treatments depend on issues related to intravesical pressure, upper urinary tract status, prevalence of urinary tract infections, and the degree of incontinence. The optimal age for treatment of incontinence is also addressed. This is followed by a survey of specific treatments such as anticholinergics, botulinum-A toxin, antibiotics, and catheters. Neuromodulation of the bladder via intravesical electrical stimulation, sacral nerve stimulation, transcutaneous stimulation, and biofeedback is scrutinized. Then follows surgical intervention, which should be tailored to each individual, based on careful consideration of urodynamic findings, medical history, age, and presence of other disability. Treatments mentioned are: urethral dilation, vesicostomy, bladder, augmentation, fascial sling, artificial urinary sphincters, and bladder neck reconstruction and are summarized with regards to success rates and complications. Finally, the treatment on neuropathic bowel dysfunction with rectal suppositories irrigation and transrectal stimulation are scrutinized.

Lower urinary tract reconstruction is safe and effective in children with end stage renal disease.

PURPOSE: Congenital urinary tract anomalies with bladder dysfunction pose a formidable management challenge in children with end stage renal disease (ESRD). We report a series of patients with ESRD who underwent lower urinary tract reconstruction to assess the results and surgical complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with ESRD who underwent urinary reconstruction. The etiology for renal failure included posterior urethral valves, cloacal anomalies, VATER syndrome and reflux nephropathy. RESULTS: From 1989 to 2000, 20 patients were identified. Median patient age at time of reconstruction was 4.5 years and median followup was 7.3 years. Pre-transplant augmentation cystoplasty was performed in 14 patients (70%) and continent reconstruction without bladder augmentation was performed in 6 patients. Subsequent renal transplant was performed in 19 patients (15 with a living related donor). Overall patient survival was 95%. There was 1 death in the immediate post-transplant period secondary to cerebral edema thought to be due to a precipitous decrease in blood urea nitrogen. The overall graft survival rate is 82%. No patients lost grafts due to infection or technical complications. All patients have stable upper tracts, and mean creatinine is 1.2 mg/dl. Three patients required major surgery due to complications of the reconstruction and 2 treated with gastrocystoplasty had severe hematuria while anuric before transplantation. All patients are continent of urine. CONCLUSIONS: Our long-term data confirm that severe bladder dysfunction can be managed safely and effectively with continent urinary reconstruction in children with ESRD.

Bladder neck cinch for pediatric neurogenic outlet deficiency.

PURPOSE: The fascial bladder neck sling achieves continence in 50% to 90% of children with neurogenic outlet deficiency. Most slings apply only partial pressure around the bladder neck. We evaluated the effectiveness of a rectus fascia bladder neck cinch which applies circumferential pressure around the bladder neck and elevation as a means of increasing outlet resistance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen children with spina bifida underwent a fascial bladder neck cinch procedure at the time of augmentation cystoplasty. A 1 to 1.5 cm width of variable length rectus fascia was harvested and a vertical slit was made in 1 end. The fascia was "cinched" tightly around the bladder neck and secured to the symphysis or rectus fascia. RESULTS: The 14 girls and 1 boy ranged in age range from 4 to 17 years. All children had neurogenic intrinsic sphincter deficiency and a poorly compliant and/or small capacity bladder. Followup ranged from 10 to 36 months (followup in 12 greater than 1 year). Postoperatively, all children perform clean intermittent catheterization. At the last followup 8 girls and the boy (60%) were dry (no leak and no pads at 4 hours from the last catheterization and dry throughout the night). CONCLUSIONS: Rectus fascia used as a bladder neck cinch is effective but no better than other bladder neck slings for decreasing urinary incontinence. The bladder neck cinch appears to be an acceptable addition to the technique of fascial slings. However, we have subsequently changed our technique because these results did not meet our expectations.

The effect of endoscopic injections of dextranomer based implants on continence and bladder capacity: a prospective study of 31 patients.

PURPOSE: A prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of dextranomer based implants as a new bulking agent for endoscopic treatment of pediatric structural incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 33 children and adolescents 5 to 18 years old with severe incontinence due to sphincteric incompetence (exstrophy-epispadias in 13, neuropathic bladder in 16, bilateral ectopic ureters in 4) were enrolled in the study. All but 1 patient wore diapers. Preoperative evaluation consisted of medical history, pad test, urine culture, urinary tract ultrasound and videourodynamics. This evaluation was repeated 6 months and 1 year after treatment and then on a yearly basis. Of the patients 14 had 2 and 1 had 3 treatment sessions to achieve a definitive result. At each evaluation the patient was considered cured-dryness interval of 4 hours confirmed by pad test, significantly improved-minimal incontinence requiring no more than 1 pad a day with less than 10 gm. leakage during pad test; and no further treatment required, and treatment failure-no significant improvement. Videourodynamics were mainly useful to study the evolution of the bladder capacity, activity and compliance. Followup after the last injection ranged from 6 to 36 months (mean 18). RESULTS: The mean injected volume was 3.9 ml. (range 1.6 to 12) and the procedure lasted a mean of 30 minutes (10 to 60). In the postoperative period 2 patients had temporary dysuria and 10 had a nonfebrile urinary tract infection. At 1 month 24 of the 33 patients (73%) were dry or improved. Two patients were subsequently excluded from study for noncompliance with followup. At 6 months 17 of 31 patients (55%), at 1 year 13 of 28 (46%), at 2 years 10 of 23 (43%) and at 3 years 10 of 20 (50%) were dry or improved. Similar success occurred in cases of neuropathic bladder (57%) and exstrophy-epispadias complex (46%). Success rate of re-treated patients was 35%. Of 13 patients with a normal initial bladder capacity 3 had a bladder decompensation requiring augmentation after 6 months. Also an increase of at least 50% in capacity was observed in 12 of 18 patients with an initial small bladder. No side effect related to the substance was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment of pediatric structural urinary incontinence with dextranomer implant, a nontoxic, nonimmunogenic, nonmigrant synthétic substance, was effective after 3 years in half of our patients. It may also be beneficial for patients with small bladder functional capacity. As the success rate decreased during the first year of followup, the result observed at 1 year seems to remain stable subsequently.

Endoscopic treatment of urinary incontinence in pediatric patients: 2-year experience with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effectiveness of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (dextranomer microspheres in sodium hyaluronan solution) as a treatment for urinary incontinence due to sphincter incompetence in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with urinary incontinence due to neurogenic and structural causes were given a transurethral injection of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer to increase bladder outlet resistance. Patients were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after injection using a validated questionnaire, 1-hour pad test, ultrasonography, cystography and cystometry. Patients who remained incontinent were offered repeat injections of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer up to a maximum of 3 injections. RESULTS: A total of 16 patients 8 to 22 years old were treated with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer, including 3 with neurogenic bladder, 8 with bladder exstrophy after 3-stage reconstruction, 4 with penopubic epispadias and 1 with urogenital sinus. Mean volume injected was 2.8 ml. (range 1.8 to 4.0) and mean number of injections received was 2.3 per patient. Dry time interval increased by 43 minutes (p <0.05) and functional bladder capacity increased by 34 ml. (p <0.05) at 6 months after treatment compared with pretreatment values. Improvement in both parameters was maintained at 12 months. At 6 and 12 months of followup 12 (75%) and 8 (50%) patients reported improvements in daytime and nighttime dryness, respectively. A slight decrease in continence parameters was observed in the 13 patients who completed the 24-month followup. No adverse events were reported and no upper urinary tract deterioration was observed as a consequence of endoscopic treatment within the 2-year followup period. CONCLUSIONS: Use of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer as a bulking agent to increase bladder outlet resistance improves symptoms in children and adolescents with incontinence of neurogenic and nonneurogenic origin.

Is bladder dysfunction and incontinence associated with ureteroceles congenital or acquired?

PURPOSE: Bladder dysfunction (a disorder often characterized by incontinence, urgency, patterns of dysfunctional voiding, incomplete emptying and so forth) in association with ureteroceles has been attributed to surgical intervention. A previous study suggested that patients with ectopic ureteroceles may have bladder dysfunction as part of this disorder regardless of the type of surgical intervention. We reviewed all types of ureteroceles (ectopic versus intravesical, simple versus duplex) to characterize the patterns of bladder dysfunction and its association with prior surgical treatments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of medical records was performed as part of a multi-institutional study. From 1986 to 2000, 616 patients were identified with ureteroceles. Bladder dysfunction was determined by detailed history (that is, voiding diary) plus urodynamic evaluation when deemed appropriate. RESULTS: Based on initial history, 39 of 616 (6.3%) patients had some form of bladder dysfunction and 34 of the 39 underwent urodynamics. All patients had ectopic ureteroceles of duplex systems. The most common symptoms of bladder dysfunction were urinary urgency and incontinence. Infrequent voiding, less than 4 voids daily, occurred in 13% (5 of 39) of the patients. Of the 33 incontinent patients 7% (2) had undergone endoscopic surgery, 12% (4) open lower tract surgery, 45% (15) a combination of upper and lower tract surgery and 36% (12) open upper tract surgery alone. Bilateral ureteroceles did not seem to increase the risk of bladder dysfunction. The majority (35 of 39) of patients with bladder dysfunction responded to behavioral modifications and medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder dysfunction associated with ureteroceles occurs in approximately 6% of patients regardless of surgical therapy. The fact that patients treated with upper tract surgery alone have similar rates of incontinence suggests that bladder dysfunction is congenital as opposed to surgically acquired.

Kock urinary reservoir maturation in children and adolescents: consequences for kidney and upper urinary tract.

OBJECTIVE: To study Kock reservoir maturation in children and adolescents and its effects on the kidneys and upper urinary tract. METHODS: Ten boys and 10 girls, aged 10.8-18 years, had Kock reservoir surgery for congenital urinary incontinence. They were followed for 3-10 years, divided into 3 different periods, and assessed with urography and enterocystography, the findings of which were correlated to renal function as measured by (51)Cr EDTA clearance, reservoir endoscopy and patient's history. RESULTS: The reservoir was located in the pelvis and remained in this position throughout the whole follow-up in 75% of patients and in the lower or midabdomen in 25%. Angled efferent nipple seen on enterocystoscopy or enterocystography coincided with nipple dysfunction, reservoir malposition or infrequent reservoir emptying. Upper urinary tract dilatation was detected in 84% of patients 3 months after surgery, 25% at 1 year and 30% at 2-10 years. The dilatation was improved in 56% of patients and unchanged in 25% after 1 year. The situation continued to improve at late follow-up. New focal renal scars were radiologically detected in 1 of 19 at early and in another 1 of 17 patients at late follow-up. Progression of old scars was detected in 1 of 19 at early and in 4 of 17 at late follow-up. Eight of 19 cases had deterioration of renal function with a change in the split renal function. Of these 8 patients, 7 reported infrequent reservoir evacuation. CONCLUSIONS: Kock reservoir is a useful form of urinary diversion in children and adolescents with congenital urinary incontinence. Radiological examinations are good methods of follow-up of the maturation of the pouch and its effects on the urinary tract and for detection of complications. Urinary tract dilatation is a frequent finding early after surgery but it subsides in most cases 3-12 months after surgery. Long-term efferent nipple dysfunction may be the result of angulation, reservoir stones, malposition and/or overdistension. Permanent renal damage may be due to pyelonephritis, stones, infrequent reservoir emptying or urinary obstruction. A strict regime of reservoir evacuation to avoid overdistension and nipple dysfunction and to decrease the possibility of renal function deterioration is strongly advisable in these patients. It is imperative that their own management of the reservoir is continuously supervised.

Evaluation of Kock urinary reservoir function in children and adolescents at 3-10 years' follow-up.

The aim of this study was to evaluate Kock reservoir function in children and adolescents operated for congenital urinary incontinence and to determine the complication rate. Reservoir function was investigated in 13 children (age range 10.8-16 years) and 7 adolescents (age range 16-18 years) through enterocystometry, enterocystoscopy and patient history. Patients were followed up for 3-10 years. The follow-up was reported as early (3 months-2 years) and late (2-10 years) postoperative periods. At early follow-up reservoir capacity was high in four patients and normal in the remaining patients. A low reservoir pressure was accompanied by high capacity and compliance. On enterocystometry first sensation for emptying was experienced in 82% of patients at early follow-up and 92% at late follow-up. Reservoir contractions were recorded in 60% of patients at early follow-up and 65% at late follow-up. The contractions were recorded at an average reservoir capacity of 270 ml at early follow-up and 340 ml at late follow-up. The complication rate was high in the child group compared with that in adolescents. Of 13 patients with at least one reservoir complication 10 were from the child group. Nipple dysfunction (angled nipple, prolapsed or stenosed stoma) occurred in 35% of patients, stones in 40% and bleeding during catheterization in 15%. Revision was performed in 38% of the child group and 15% of the adolescents. Reservoir perforation was observed in two patients at 6 and 9 years postoperatively. At late follow-up continence was excellent in 17 of 19 patients and good in 2. We conclude that the Kock reservoir is a good modality for urinary diversion, but the complication incidence is high in the child group (<16 years). Stability of the reservoir in terms of volume and low internal pressures was achieved one year after operation, except in the patients with infrequent reservoir emptying. A time-related increase in the reservoir sensitivity and contractility was reported on enterocystometry. Nipple dysfunction is common during the first two years after surgery, particularly in the child group. Stones may form 3-4 years after surgery. Satisfactory continence was achieved in all patients, although a revisional operation was necessary in some patients in order to obtain permanent continence.

Duplications of the male urethra--two case reports.

Duplications of the male urethra are rare congenital malformations. They do not represent a uniform entity making it difficult to find an unequivocal and comprehensive classification. Management is directed by the individual functional situation. In this presentation two morphologically and functionally differing cases of a sagittal urethral duplication are described and aspects of diagnosis and treatment discussed.

Early and late metabolic alterations in children and adolescents with a kock urinary reservoir.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the early and late metabolic effects of urinary diversion in children and adolescents with a Kock urinary reservoir. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirteen children (aged 10.8- 16 years) and seven adolescents (aged 16-18 years; 10 girls and 10 boys), underwent surgery for congenital urinary incontinence. They were followed for 3-10 years (mean 6.5), divided into an early (3 months to 2 years) and a late (2-10 years) period, and assessed for renal function and any metabolic effects. RESULTS: At the early and late follow-up, one of 19 and three of 16 patients, respectively, had metabolic acidosis. Hyperchloraemia was present in four of 20 patients at the early and in eight of 18 at the late follow-up. Serum creatinine was increased in four of 20 patients at the early and eight of 18 at the late follow-up. In patients with infrequent reservoir emptying (

Ectopic ureter with complete ureteric duplication: conservative surgical management.

To assess the outcome of conservative procedures, the authors reviewed their experience in the management of 31 ectopic ureters with complete ureteric duplication. Twenty-eight girls and three boys (aged 19 days to 10 years; mean, 30 months) were operated on between 1968 and 1994. Twenty-four of the children presented for evaluation of dribbling urinary incontinence and/or febrile urinary tract infections; seven presented after prenatal ultrasonographic diagnosis of hydronephrosis. The location of the ectopic orifice was identified in 25 children: bladder neck (6), posterior urethra (6), vagina (7), and vestibule (6). Upper pole nephroureterectomy was performed in 16 children who had nonfunctioning renal segments. Ureterovesical reimplantation was performed in 10 children who had functioning segments. In five borderline cases, temporary cutaneous ureterostomy was performed, followed by ureteropyelostomy (2), ureterovesical reimplantation (2), and upper pole nephrectomy (1). Histological examination of the polar nephrectomy specimens showed lesions of dysplasia in only four cases (24%). The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 20 years (mean, 66 months). All children who presented with incontinence became continent after polar nephrectomy or conservative surgery. One child required surgical revision of the ureteropyelostomy anastomosis. Of the 12 children who had ureterovesical reimplantation, none needed further procedures. Ectopic ureters in duplex systems with functioning renal segments should be conserved.

[Congenital ectopic ureteral orifice as the cause of 70 years incontinence]. / Konnatale ektope Uretermündung als Ursache siebzigjähriger Inkontinenz.

A female patient of 70 years of age had been suffering from absolute incontinence of urine from birth. Although doctors had been consulted repeatedly, the real cause had never been discovered. It was now possible to identify the cause of the complaint by means of transvaginal contrast visualisation: ureter orifice and vagina were ectopically conjoined.

Sacral agenesis and caudal spinal cord malformations.

Thirty-three children and one adult with sacral agenesis (SA) were studied by computed tomographic myelography and/or magnetic resonance imaging and were monitored for a mean period of 4.7 years. Four children had the OEIS (concurrent omphalocele, cloacal exstrophy, imperforate anus, and spinal deformities) complex, and three others had VATER (vertebral abnormality, anal imperforation, tracheoesophageal fistula, and renal-radial anomalies) syndrome. All patients shared some of the characteristic features of SA, namely, a short, intergluteal cleft, flattened buttocks, narrow hips, distal leg atrophy, and talipes deformities. Neurologically, lumbosacral sensation was much better preserved than the motor functions, and urinary and bowel symptoms were universal. The level of the vertebral aplasia was correlated with the motor but not with the sensory level. The important neuroimaging findings of SA were as follows: 1) 12 patients (35%) had nonstenotic, tapered narrowing of the caudal bony canal, and 2 patients had hyperostosis indenting the caudal thecal sac; 2) 16 patients (47%) had nonstenotic, tapered narrowing and shortening of the dural sac, but 3 patients (9%) had true, symptomatic dural stenosis, in which the cauda equina was severely constricted by a pencil-sized caudal dural sac; 3) the coni could be divided into those ending above the L1 vertebral body (Group 1, 14 patients) and those ending below L1 (Group 2, 20 patients). Thirteen of 14 Group 1 coni were club or wedge-shaped, terminating abruptly at T11 or T12, as if the normal tip was missing. All 20 Group 2 coni were tethered: 13 were tethered by a thick filum; 2 were extremely elongated and had a terminal hydromyelia; 3 were terminal myelocystoceles; and 2 were tethered by a transitional lipoma. High blunt coni were highly correlated with high (severe) sacral malformations (sacrum ending at S1), but low-lying tethered coni were highly correlated with low sacral malformations (S2 or lower pieces present).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Surgical management of congenital urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence in eight female cats and a bitch.

Congenital urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence is a cause of urinary incontinence in female dogs and cats. In some of these animals, urethra hypoplasia is the primary diagnosis, with the urethra being almost absent in some patients. Treatment of this problem can be difficult. This paper describes two techniques for the surgical treatment of eight cats and one dog with severe urethral hypoplasia. In five animals, partial excision of the bladder neck was performed to create a longer "urethra." In the other four, an attempt was made to conserve bladder volume while simultaneously creating a urethra with a bladder neck flap reconstruction technique. One cat was lost to follow-up, but the clinical signs resolved in three cats and the remaining animals improved. Two cats had recurring cystitis, possibly associated with bladder neck diverticula because of uterine horn remnants terminating abnormally in the bladder. The results in this limited series suggest that reconstructive surgery in cases of severe urethral hypoplasia improves continence control.

Congenital urinary incontinence in cats: a review of 19 cases.

Nineteen cases of feline congenital urinary incontinence (10 cats with ureteral ectopia and nine with incompetence of the urethral sphincter mechanism) are reviewed. The 10 cats with ureteral ectopia are considered together with 13 from previous reports. There was no apparent breed predisposition. Most of the 23 cats were presented for urinary incontinence but two of them were continent. Thirteen were females and ectopia was unilateral in 13 and bilateral in 10. Twenty-eight of 31 ectopic ureters terminated in the urethra. The commonest complication was hydroureter/hydronephrosis (10 cases). Eighteen of the cats were treated surgically, 13 by ureteral transplantation, four by ureteronephrectomy and one by ligation of the renal blood vessels; 16 of them were cured by surgery. Congenital urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence has not been reported previously in the cat. Nine cases are presented and the urethras of all were markedly hypoplastic. A common concomitant abnormality was vaginal aplasia, with the uterine horns terminating in the dorsum of the bladder. Bacteriuria was more common in this group than in the cats with ureteral ectopia.

The artificial sphincter AS800 in congenital urinary incontinence.

The artificial urinary sphincter AS800 was implanted in 33 male and 13 female patients with congenital urinary tract incontinence. In 15 patients (32 per cent) previous operations to correct incontinence had failed. The sphincter was implanted around the bladder neck in 43 patients and around the bulbous urethra in 3. Mean patient age at the time of sphincter implantation was 13 years. In 40 patients (87 per cent) the sphincter functions well after a mean followup of 25 months and 39 patients (85 per cent) have satisfactory continence. In 6 patients the sphincter was removed because urethral, vulvar or scrotal erosions developed, all of whom had had previous surgical procedures in the area of the erosion. In 1 patient not operated upon previously erosion of the bulbous urethra developed. He did well after a new sphincter was implanted around the bladder neck. Five patients required an enterocystoplasty to achieve continence following the sphincter implantation. Nine patients required surgical revision of the sphincter for mechanical failure, technical errors, trauma and patient growth. We conclude that in patients with neurogenic sphincter failure implantation of an artificial sphincter around the bladder neck should be considered as the initial treatment of choice.