Pediatric bladder augmentation – Panacea or Pandora’s box?

INTRODUCTION: Bladder augmentation is a surgery that can increase bladder capacity and compliance. The objective of this study was to provide a longitudinal review of pediatric bladder augmentation at a tertiary Canadian center. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent bladder augmentation at a tertiary pediatric hospital between 1986 and 2014. The primary objective was short- and long-term complications of augmentation. Secondary objectives were to review number of augmentation procedures performed over time and the utility of routine postoperative cystograms. RESULTS: A total of 56 procedures were performed on 54 patients (28 males, 26 females) of mean age 10 years (standard deviation [SD] 5) and mean followup eight years (SD 5). The most common bowel segment used was ileum (87.5%). Twenty-eight patients (50%) received catheterizable channels. Overall complication rate was 15%, and the most common complications were urinary tract infections (68.5%), worsening hydronephrosis (14.8%), bladder stone formation (14%), and hematuria (13%). In total, 19 of 54 (35.2%) patients returned to the operating room. The incidence of bladder perforation was 3.6%. Complications with the catheterizable channel occurred in 13 of 28 (46.4%), of which 10 were related to stomal stenosis. Forty patients had postoperative cystograms and extravasation was seen in three (7.5%). There was no malignancy during the followup. Only four augmentations were performed from 2008-2014. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder augmentation likely represents a safe surgical treatment option. Extravasation on postoperative cystogram was uncommon and thus it may not be indicated routinely. The number of augmentation procedures performed has declined in recent years.