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PurposeEnterocystoplasty is adopted for patients requiring bladder augmentation, but significant long-term complications highlight need for alternatives. We established a protocol for creating a natural-derived bladder extracellular matrix (BEM) for developing tissue-engineered bladder, and investigated its structural and functional characteristics.MethodsPorcine bladders were de-cellularised with a dynamic detergent–enzymatic treatment using peristaltic infusion. Samples and fresh controls were evaluated using histological staining, ultrastructure (electron microscopy), collagen, glycosaminoglycans and DNA quantification and biomechanical testing. Compliance and angiogenic properties (Chicken chorioallantoic membrane [CAM] assay) were evaluated. T test compared stiffness and glycosaminoglycans, collagen and DNA quantity. p value of < 0.05 was regarded as significant.ResultsHistological evaluation demonstrated absence of cells with preservation of tissue matrix architecture (collagen and elastin). DNA was 0.01 μg/mg, significantly reduced compared to fresh tissue 0.13 μg/mg (p < 0.01). BEM had increased tensile strength (0.259 ± 0.022 vs 0.116 ± 0.006, respectively, p < 0.0001) and stiffness (0.00075 ± 0.00016 vs 0.00726 ± 0.00216, p = 0.011). CAM assay showed significantly increased number of convergent allantoic vessels after 6 days compared to day 1 (p < 0.01). Urodynamic studies showed that BEM maintains or increases capacity and compliance.ConclusionDynamic detergent–enzymatic treatment produces a BEM which retains structural characteristics, increases strength and stiffness and is more compliant than native tissue. Furthermore, BEM shows angiogenic potential. These data suggest the use of BEM for development of tissue-engineered bladder for patients requiring bladder augmentation.

Background Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is a procedure to improve the clinical and urodynamic parameters of neurogenic bladder (NB) in children and adolescents refractory to other treatments. We performed a systematic review to investigate these parameters in children and adolescents with NB undergoing AC. Methods We followed PRISMA guidelines and searched electronic databases until March 2024 for studies involving patients aged three to 19 years diagnosed with NB undergoing AC. We assessed clinical and urodynamic parameters before and after surgery, focusing on improvements in urinary incontinence, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), bladder capacity, compliance, and end filling detrusor pressure (EFP). Results A total of 212 NB patients underwent AC and were evaluated for urinary incontinence before and after surgery. Two studies showed a 76.5% to 78.9% improvement in incontinence without bladder outlet procedures (BOP). Another study found no significant difference in incontinence improvement rates between AC with and without BOP. The VUR resolution rate assessed in three studies ranged from 12.5 to 64%. Three studies showed a variation in bladder capacity from 52.8 to 70% of the expected bladder capacity pre-AC to 95.9 to 119%, post-AC. A fourth study showed a variation in bladder capacity from 87 ml pre-AC to 370 ml post-AC. Two studies showed a variation from 3.2 to 4.6 ml/cm H 2 O pre-AC to 13.7 to 41.3 ml/cm H 2 O post-AC in bladder compliance. The EFP in three studies varied from 37.2 to 47.6 cm H 2 O pre-AC to 11 to 17.4 cm H 2 O post-AC. Conclusion After AC, urinary incontinence, bladder capacity, EFP, and bladder compliance improved in children and adolescents with NB. Graphical abstract A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information

Urinary bladder dysfunction can be caused by environmental, genetic, and developmental insults. Depending upon insult severity, the bladder may lose its ability to maintain volumetric capacity and intravesical pressure resulting in renal deterioration. Bladder augmentation enterocystoplasty (BAE) is utilized to increase bladder capacity to preserve renal function using autologous bowel tissue as a “patch.” To avoid the clinical complications associated with this procedure, we have engineered composite grafts comprised of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) co-seeded with CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) onto a pliable synthetic scaffold [poly(1,8-octamethylene-citrate-co-octanol)(POCO)] or a biological scaffold (SIS; small intestinal submucosa) to regenerate bladder tissue in our baboon bladder augmentation model. We set out to determine the global protein expression profile of bladder tissue that has undergone regeneration with the aforementioned stem cell seeded scaffolds along with baboons that underwent BAE. Data demonstrate that POCO and SIS grafted animals share high protein homogeneity between native and regenerated tissues while BAE animals displayed heterogeneous protein expression between the tissues following long-term engraftment. We posit that stem cell-seeded scaffolds can recapitulate tissue that is nearly indistinguishable from native tissue at the protein level and may be used in lieu of procedures such as BAE.

Introduction and hypothesisThe aim of this systematic review of the literature was to pool all the existing data regarding pregnancy and delivery in women with neurogenic bladder or bladder exstrophy who had undergone previous lower urinary tract reconstruction (LUTR).MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of the literature from PubMed/MedLine, ClinicalTrials.gov and the Google Scholar database, from 1972 to July 2020. Fifty articles were included, of which 25 contained data that could be pooled (229 women representing 292 pregnancies).ResultsNinety-eight women had bladder exstrophy (43%), 58 had spinal dysraphism (25%), 14 had spinal cord injury (6%), and 59 presented other pathological conditions. Of these, 138 have had an augmentation cystoplasty (61%), 42 (18%) had a continent cutaneous urinary diversion, and 31 had an artificial urinary sphincter (14%). During their pregnancy, 97 women (33%) experienced at least one febrile urinary tract infection. Thirty-one women (11%) required ureteral stenting or nephrostomy placement for upper urinary tract dilatation. Forty-six pregnancies ended with premature delivery (16%). Delivery mode was by C-section for 108 patients (62%) and vaginal delivery for 104 (36%). Twenty complications were reported during delivery (mainly urological), of which 19 occurred during C-section. Nine women experienced postpartum urinary incontinence (4%); in 5 of then this was due to urinary fistulae secondary to complicated C-section.ConclusionsPregnancy and vaginal delivery are possible for women with LUTR who have no obstetric or medical contraindications, except for some particular cases of bladder exstrophy. However, these high-risk pregnancies and deliveries should be managed by a specialist multidisciplinary team.

Augmentation cystoplasty (AC) is a well-established surgical option for the management of overactive bladder where conservative management has failed. We describe the case of a man in his 50s with chronic bladder dysfunction secondary to refractory detrusor overactivity and small capacity bladder. His lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) of urinary frequency and nocturia persisted despite pharmacological therapy and peripheral neural modulation; hence, he underwent surgical intervention for management of his bladder dysfunction. A robot-assisted clamshell enterocystoplasty was performed with a successful outcome. His LUTS have improved significantly post surgery. This case highlights modern advances in minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques in the management of functional urological conditions. It also further demonstrates that the robotic approach is a viable option for AC, an operation traditionally performed as open surgery.

Purpose To investigate the need and efficacy of treatment of bladder neck procedures in patients with neurogenic bladder and augmentation. Methods The hospital database was reviewed for patients undergoing enterocystoplasty because of neurogenic bladder during 1990–2019. Diagnoses of patients as well as frequency, type, and efficacy of treatment of sphincter insufficiency were evaluated. Results Thirty-seven of 87 patients (43%) underwent surgery because of sphincter insufficiency. The median age at bladder augmentation was 11.9 years (IQR 8.5–14.8), and at the last control, 21.8 years (IQR 18.9–31.1). Bladder neck injections (BNI) were performed for 28 patients, fascial sling operation for 14 patients, and bladder neck closure (BNC) was done for five females. Full continence was achieved in 10/28 (36%) patients with one or repeat BNIs and 9/14 (64%) with sling operation. The outcome of BNIs and sling operations was similar in both sexes. All five female patients with BNC became continent. At the end of follow-up, 64 (74%) patients were dry, 19 (22%) had occasional incontinence episodes, and 4 (5%) had daily incontinence episodes necessitating pads. Conclusions Treatment of sphincter insufficiency is challenging in patients with bladder augmentation and neurogenic disease. Only 74% of our patients became fully continent despite treatments for sphincter insufficiency.

PurposeTo evaluate the long-term effect of using small intestinal submucosa (SIS) for bladder augmentation in patients with neurogenic bladder.Materials and methodsA total of 15 patients (age range 14–65 years; mean age 29.6 years) were enrolled in our study. The patients had poor bladder capacity and compliance caused by a neurogenic disorder requiring bladder augmentation. A small intestinal submucosa (SIS) cystoplasty was performed alone or in combination with ureter reimplantation. We prospectively followed the cohort to assess the urodynamics parameters, morphologic changes and patient satisfaction and evaluate the clinical benefit of the SIS procedure in long term. The surgical indications and complications were analyzed.ResultsThe duration of follow-up ranged from 4.5 to 8.3 years (mean 6.3 years). Nine patients had expected long-term benefit, leading to an overall success rate of 60%. Two patients experienced immediate failure, and four patients slowed decrease in bladder capacity over time. Compared with the baseline data, there were significant increases in bladder capacity (163.5 ± 80.90–275.6 ± 159.5 ml, p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in maximum detrusor pressure (45.07 ± 29.03–17.60 ± 10.34 cmH2O, p < 0.05). Histologic examinations showed a complete conversion of SIS, leaving the urothelial lining and bladder wall containing muscular, vascular, and relatively thick connective tissue. Major complications included vesicoureteral reflux in five patients, bladder stone formation in one patient, and bladder perforation in one patient.ConclusionBladder augmentation with an SIS graft offers a partial long-term success rate in neurogenic bladder patients. This procedure cannot be recommended as a substitute for enterocystoplasty, especially in patients with severe upper urinary tract deterioration and/or bladder fibrosis.

PurposeTo evaluate the urodynamic changes in patients who have undergone colocystoplasty (CCP), gastrocystoplasty (GCP) and ileocystoplasty (ICP) in a retrospective study. Changes in urinary continence, incidence of pathologic contractions before and after augmentation, alterations of urodynamic parameters were also examined.MethodsEighty-four patients were included in the study who underwent bladder augmentation between 1987 and 2017. Group I: 35 patients with CCP. Group II: 18 patients with GCP. Group III: 31 patients with ICP. Cystometry was performed at 3, 6, and every 12 months, then biannually after augmentation. Pre- and postoperative urodynamic changes were analysed statistically.ResultsIn Group I, two patients and in Group III, one patient remained incontinent after CCP and ICP. Bladder capacity increased significantly, maximal intra-vesical pressure decreased and compliance improved in all groups (p < 0.001). Postoperative studies showed pathologic contractions in the augmented bladder in half of the patients with GCP, in 43% of patients after CCP and 26% of patients with ICP.ConclusionFrom the urodynamic point of view, ileum is the most adequate option in the long term. Contractions after augmentation might be caused by the remaining peristalsis of the detubularised segment. Further investigations are needed to evaluate pathologic contractions that remained after detubularisation.

PurposeAfter bladder augmentation (BA) using bowel segments, it is known that there is a risk for secondary malignancies. It remains unclear whether this also applies to spina bifida (SB) patients without BA. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of bladder cancer (BC) in SB at a single tertiary institution and assess the patients’ oncologic outcome.MethodsPatients with SB and BC treated from January 2016 until March 2020 were included and corresponding data were collected retrospectively. Endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsAmong 132 adult patients with SB, four with a median age of 34.5 years (IQR 31.5–36.8, range 31–37) had a BC. None of the patients had undergone BA. Most common symptoms included recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) (75%) and hydronephrosis (75%). At the time of the diagnosis, tumors were locally advanced (≥ T3) and lymph-node positive in all cases. All patients underwent radical cystectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy in two out of four cases. Histology showed squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) or at least a squamous cell component in all patients. The median PFS was 5.9 months (IQR 5.1–124.5) and the median OS was 8.7 months (IQR 6.3–125.5).ConclusionsSCC in SB can appear at a young age and is usually diagnosed in an advanced tumor stage with poor prognosis despite radical surgical resection. Patients with SB without BA with clinical symptoms, new onset of hematuria, and/or upper tract dilatation should receive a cystoscopy ± further imaging.

Purpose Cloacal exstrophy (CE) patients may need bladder reconstruction after initially undergoing surgery to obtain continence and improve their quality of life. This study attempts to clarify the clinical features of CE patients who underwent bladder augmentation (BA) and their urinary functional outcomes based on a nationwide survey in Japan. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted, and 150 CE patients were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics and urinary outcomes were reviewed. Results BA was performed in 52 patients (34.7%). Most cases underwent early bladder closure at initial surgery in neonate period. The age at the BA was performed 6.4 [6–9.0] years. Among them, the most used organ for BA was ileum ( n  = 30, 57.7%). Regarding the outcomes, the age when the renal function was evaluated was 14.0 [10.0–20.5] years and the serum creatinine level was 0.44 [0.36–0.60] (mg/dl). Clean intermittent catheterization was required in 37 (71.2%) patients. On the other hand, no dialysis or kidney transplantation was necessary in any of these patients. Conclusion The renal function and conditions of patients who underwent BA were relatively well preserved. Individualized management with a stepwise surgical approach for CE patients should thus be considered in the future.