Management of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in children update and recommendations on medical treatment

ABSTRACT Introduction: Defective closure of the neural tube affects different systems and generates sequelae, such as neurogenic bladder (NB). Myelomeningocele (MMC) represents the most frequent and most severe cause of NB in children. Damage of the renal parenchyma in children with NB acquired in postnatal stages is preventable given adequate evaluation, follow-up and proactive management. The aim of this document is to update issues on medical management of neurogenic bladder in children. Materials and Methods: Five Pediatric Urologists joined a group of experts and reviewed all important issues on "Spina Bifida, Neurogenic Bladder in Children" and elaborated a draft of the document. All the members of the group focused on the same system of classification of the levels of evidence (GRADE system) in order to assess the literature and the recommendations. During the year 2020 the panel of experts has met virtually to review, discuss and write a consensus document. Results and Discussion: The panel addressed recommendations on up to date choice of diagnosis evaluation and therapies. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) should be implemented during the first days of life, and antimuscarinic drugs should be indicated upon results of urodynamic studies. When the patient becomes refractory to first-line therapy, receptor-selective pharmacotherapy is available nowadays, which leads to a reduction in reconstructive procedures, such as augmentation cystoplasty.

Experiencia con la "técnica de Xiao" para reinervación de la vejiga, en pacientes con mielomeningocele y vejiga neurogénica, 8 años de seguimiento, en adultos / Experience with the "Xiao technique" for reinnervation of the bladder, in patients with myelomeningocele and neurogenic bladder, 8 years of follow-up, in adults

Objetivo: Restaurar función de vaciado vesical en pacientes con vejiga neurogénica por medio de la reinervación de la vejiga a través de la creación de reflejo sómato-visceral. Registrar complicaciones neuroquirúrgicas, urológicas y ortopédicas.Evaluar dificultades técnico-quirúrgicas y los resultados de 5 casos realizados en Argentina. Introducción: La vejiga neurogénica es una complicación secundaria al daño neurológico en los pacientes con mielomeningocele (MMC). Para lograr vaciar la vejiga deben realizar cateterismo intermitente. La técnica Xiao se basa en permitir la generación de un arco reflejo somato visceral por medio de una anastomosis entre una raíz eferente donante y la raíz motora S2 S3 que permita el vaciado vesical sin cateterismo. Material y métodos: Por medio de un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo, se analizan los resultados obtenidos luego de realizar la técnica Xiao, en el año 2010, en 5 pacientes con MMC y vejiga neurogénica. Los pacientes fueron operados en el Instituto de Rehabilitación (IREP). Fueron evaluados en forma multidisciplinaria tanto pre como en el postoperatorio por neurocirujanos, neurólogos, urólogos, clínicos y kinesiólogos. Resultados: Los pacientes que presentaron mejores resultados fueron los más jóvenes y los que no presentaban daño estructural de la vejiga al momento de la cirugía, lo que coincide con los resultados compartidos por los demás centros donde fue realizada esta técnica. Conclusiones: La técnica de Xiao puede considerarse una opción para el tratamiento de la vejiga neurogénica. Aunque nuestra serie es muy pequeña para dar conclusiones, los resultados globales de todas las series muestran resultados alentadores.

Objective: To restore bladder function in patients with neurogenic bladder through the reinnervation through restauration of somatic-visceral reflex. Record neurosurgical, urological and orthopedic complications. To evaluate technical-surgical difficulties and the results of 5 cases performed in Argentina. Introduction: Neurogenic bladder is a complication secondary to neurological damage in patients with myelomeningocele (MMC). To achieve emptying of the bladder, intermittent catheterization must be performed. The "Xiao technique" is based on allowing the generation of a visceral somatic-reflex arc by means of an anastomosis between a donor efferent root and the motor root S2-S3 that allows bladder emptying without catheterization. Material and methods: Through a retrospective descriptive study, the results obtained after performing the "Xiao technique" in 5 patients with MMC and neurogenic bladder were analyzed. The patients were operated at the Rehabilitation Institute (IREP). They were evaluated with a multidisciplinary team, both pre and post-surgery. The team was formed by neurosurgeons, neurologists, urologists, clinicians and kinesiologists. Results: The patients who presented the best results were the youngest and those who did not present structural damage of the bladder at the time of surgery, which match the results shared by the other centers where this technique was performed. Conclusions: "Xiao's technique" can be considered an option for the treatment of neurogenic bladder. Although our series is too small to make conclusions, the overall results of all the series show encouraging results

Transforming growth factor-β1 in congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction: diagnosis and follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To assess the role of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction at diagnosis and during postoperative follow-up. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a case-control study including 19 patients with a mean age of 6.7 years and 19 matched controls. All patients presented negative voiding cystourethrography, obstructive diuretic renogram and underwent dismembered pyeloplasty. Urinary TGF-β1 and other markers were measured pre-, intra- and postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean bladder urine TGF-β1 concentration in obstructed patients prior to pyeloplasty was higher than in controls (92.5 pg/mL ± 16.8 vs. 35.8 pg/mL ± 16.2; p = 0.0001). The mean renal pelvic urine TGF-β1 concentration in the hydronephrotic kidney was higher than in the preoperative bladder urine sample (122.3 pg/mL ± 43.9 vs. 92.5 pg/mL ± 16.8; p = 0.036). Postoperative mean TGF-β1 concentration was significantly lower than preoperative TGF-β1 (48.7 pg/mL ± 13.1 vs. 92.5 pg/mL ± 16.8; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: TGF-β1 is a cytokine leading to renal fibrosis. The measurement of urinary TGF-β1 could become a useful tool for the diagnosis of obstructive hydronephrosis and the evaluation of the parenchyma function status, pre and postoperatively.