Salvage reconstructive surgery in an adult patient with failed previous repair of an extrophy-epispadias complex: an operation with a functional and aesthetic purpose

ABSTRACT

Salvage surgical procedures after failed reconstruction for an extrophy-epispadias complex are extremely challenging. The goals are to restore continence and improve aesthetic appearance in order to provide quality of life and an improved body image to the patient. We describe the surgical steps in an adult patient who presented anal urinary incontinence and a poor body image due to the absence of an umbilicus and the presence of hypertrophic scars. He underwent a modified Mainz II reconstruction of the lower urinary tract at childhood for an extrophy-epispadias complex. Restoration of continence was achieved by the construction of a modified Mainz I pouch with a continent stoma in a neo-umbilicus. Body image improved dramatically by the construction of a neo-umbilicus, a surgical revision of the hypertrophic abdominal scars and an abdominoplasty. It is mandatory that such demanding surgery should only be attempted as a combined multidisciplinary effort with urologists and plastic/reconstructive surgeons.