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Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons
Medknow Publications on behalf of the Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons
ISSN: 0971-9261 EISSN: 1998-3891
Vol. 14, Num. 2, 2009, pp. 76-77

Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons, Vol. 14, No. 2, April-June, 2009, pp. 76-77

Case Report

Urethral substitution with ileum in traumatic bladder neck-vagina fistula

Department of Paediatric Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu-632 004
Correspondence Address:Dr. Sudipta Sen, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu-632 004
paedsur@cmcvellore.ac.in

Code Number: ip09024

DOI: 10.4103/0971-9261.55159

Abstract

A five-year-old girl presented with post traumatic urinary incontinence secondary to rupture of the bladder neck into the vagina. Operative repair included a midline exposure with resection of the symphysis pubis, separation of the bladder neck from the vagina, repair of the torn bladder neck and urethral substitution with ileum. Normal continence and voiding was achieved.

Keywords: Ileum, rectus muscle flap, urethrovaginal fistula, urethral reconstruction

Introduction

Pelvic trauma in the female child can result in total loss of the urethra and rupture of the bladder neck into the vagina. [1],[2] We report a case where this was reconstructed with bladder neck repair and urethral substitution with a Monti tube, resulting in complete cure of incontinence without the need for intermittent catheterization.

Case Report

A five-year-old girl presented with urinary incontinence following a history of pelvic trauma. She had a single orifice at the introitus from which she was continuously leaking urine. On endoscopic examination the bladder neck was found opening into the vagina. Operative reconstruction proceeded [Figure - 1]. Operative exposure was obtained with a midline vertical incision from the umbilicus to the vaginal orifice with division and partial excision of the symphysis pubis. The remnant of the proximal urethra and bladder neck were dissected off the anterior vaginal wall at the area of the bladder neck-vaginal fistula. The rupture in the posterior aspect of the bladder neck was then repaired anatomically resulting in a normal appearing bladder neck with a short proximal urethral stump which would not reach the perineum.

A three cm segment of ileum was isolated on its pedicle to reach the perineum. The ileal segment was tubularized over an 8Fr feeding tube in the form of the Yang- Monti tube. It was then anastomosed proximally to the urethral stump and distally to the introitus at the site of expected urethral orifice. The lower half of the left rectus muscle was mobilized as a flap with its inferior attachment to the pubis left intact and carefully preserving the inferior epigastric vessels. This muscle flap was placed between the posterior bladder wall and the vagina to prevent refistulization. [3] The anterior vaginal wall was left unrepaired as the posterior and lateral vaginal walls were intact and closure of the anterior vaginal wall may result in stenosis. The anterior vaginal wall was left to reepithelialize over the rectus muscle interposed between the posterior bladder wall and vagina. An appendicular Mitrofanoff was also created opening at the umbilicus. We contemplate closing the Mitrofanoff port when the child desires it.

At follow-up after 10 months, she is voiding normally with continent intervals of four to six hours. Residual urine measured after voiding was two ml. Ultrasound and serum creatinine remain normal and the micturating cystourethrogram was satisfactory [Figure - 2]. She uses the Mitrofanoff channel once a day to maintain its patency.

Discussion

Traumatic posterior urethral loss in boys can be made up by mobilizing and rerouting the remaining urethra. The short female urethra is often totally destroyed in pelvic injury and has to be substituted. [1] Various methods have been described including - bladder and buccal mucosa, anterior bladder tube, ureters, appendix, anterior lateral thigh free flap, pedicled island skin, amnion grafts, fallopian tube, and colonic mucosa. [4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10] Tapered ileum has been used as a perineal Mitrofanoff stoma for patients with urinary incontinence of congenital origin. [11]

We have successfully used the Monti tube for posterior urethral substitution in boys. [12] It is more difficult to bring the appendix to the perineum based on a single blood vessel. It was easier to bring the appendix to abdominal wall. The Monti-Yang tube is more versatile in its blood supply and has further reach than the appendix. In the girl reported herein, we have used a similar method of urethra substitution after separation of the bladder neck from the vagina and repairing the posterior tear in the bladder neck resulting in complete continence without the need for intermittent catheterization. The continence of the bladder neck is due the anatomical repair of the injured bladder in a previously normal bladder, hence, resulting in a normally functioning bladder neck after the repair with a loss of urethra which was substituted. We have also used a rectus muscle flap to prevent vesicovaginal refistulization.

References

1.Dorairajan LN, Gupta H, Kumar S. Pelvic fracture-associated urethral injuries in girls: experience with primary repair. BJU Int 2004;94:134-6.  Back to cited text no. 1    
2.Huang CR, Sun N, Wei-ping, Xie HW, Hwang AH, Hardy BE. The management of old urethral injury in young girls: analysis of 44 cases. J Pediatr Surg 2003;38:1329-32.   Back to cited text no. 2    
3.Sen S, Zachariah N, Chacko J, Thomas G. Buttressing the divided bladder neck by a rectus abdominis muscle flap to prevent urethral recanalisation in paediatric urinary incontinence. Pediatr Surg Int 2003;19:124-6.   Back to cited text no. 3    
4.Dabernig J. Neo-urethra preformation in free anterolateral thigh flap. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg 2006;59:779-80.  Back to cited text no. 4    
5.Xu YM, Qiao Y, Sa YL, Zhang J, Zhang HZ, Zhang XR, Wu DL, Chen R. One-stage urethral reconstruction using colonic mucosa graft: an experimental and clinical study. World J Gastroenterol 2003;9:381-4.  Back to cited text no. 5    
6.Kelemen Z, Romics I, Pajor L. Substitution of the distal female urethra with a vaginal flap and pedicled skin island. BJU Int 2002;89:459-61.  Back to cited text no. 6    
7.Brandt FT, Albuquerque CD, Lorenzato FR. Female Urethral reconstruction with amnion grafts. Int J Surg Investig 2000;1:409-14.   Back to cited text no. 7    
8.Hemal AK, Dorairajan LN, Gupta NP. Posttraumatic complete and partial loss of urethra with pelvic fracture in girls: an appraisal of management. J Urol 2000;163:282-7.  Back to cited text no. 8    
9.Sheldon CA, Gilbert A. Use of the appendix for urethral reconstruction in children with congenital anomalies of the bladder. Surgery 1992;112:805-11.  Back to cited text no. 9    
10.Ahmed S, Neel KF. Urethral injury in girls with fractured pelvis following blunt abdominal trauma. Br J Urol 1996;78:450-3.  Back to cited text no. 10    
11.Barroso U Jr, Duel B, Barthold JS, Gonzalez R. Orthotopic urethral substitution in female patients using the Mitrofanoff principle . J Urol 1999;61:251-3.  Back to cited text no. 11    
12.Kumar J, Sen S, Dange A, Kumar A. Use of ileum in reconstruction of the congenitally abnormal posterior urethra in two children. J Pediatr Urol 2007;3:333-6.  Back to cited text no. 12    

Copyright 2009 - Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons


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