Intestinal bladder augmentation at school age has no adverse effects on growth

Abstract 

Purpose

Intestinal bladder augmentation predisposes the patient to many complications. The aim of this study was to determine whether augmentation has an adverse effect on growth.

Materials and methods

Longitudinal growth data were collected and analyzed for nine patients with bladder exstrophy and augmentation, and compared with the growth data of 13 exstrophy patients without augmentation. Augmentation was performed at a median age of 10.3 years (range 6.3–13.2). The median follow up was 5.4 years (range 3.6–9.1).

Results

The median height Z-score at age 10 years was −0.4 (range −1.8 to +1.5) in patients who later received augmentation and −0.2 (−2.1 to +1.7) in the non-augmented group. Their median heights at latest follow up were −0.7 (−1.6 to +1.9) and 0.0 (range −1.8 to +1.1), respectively. The adult height of three patients with and 13 patients without augmentation was normal.

Conclusions

Intestinal bladder augmentation performed at school age has no adverse effects on longitudinal growth in patients with bladder exstrophy. Most of the patients with bladder exstrophy have normal growth.

Keywords: Bladder augmentation, Bladder exstrophy, Growth