Bladder Augmentation - Children's Hospital Boston

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My Child Has:

Bladder Augmentation

Programs that treat this condition or perform this procedure

Robotic Surgery

What is bladder augmentation?

Bladder augmentation, also called augmentation cystoplasty, is a complex reconstructive surgical procedure where a portion of intestine or the stomach is attached to the bladder to increase the size of the organ and to improve its ability to stretch.

Normally, urine flows from the kidneys through two long tubes (ureters) and collects in the bladder. The bladder is a soft, balloon-like organ where urine is stored until it is expelled through the sphincter, flowing through the urethra and out of the body.

Why is bladder augmentation performed?

Bladder augmentation is performed in cases where chronic obstructive bladder damage, birth defects, or other medical problems have made the bladder too small to hold the normal amount of urine produced by the kidneys. Bladder augmentation can relieve urinary incontinence and prevent damage to the kidneys from urine backing up (reflux).

What are the complications associated with bladder augmentation?

Many candidates for bladder augmentation have other serious medical problems including spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, bladder exstrophy, bladder obstruction, multiple sclerosis, or require kidney transplants. Complications of bladder augmentation are similar to other surgeries. The procedure requires general anesthesia, and some patients can suffer headaches, nausea, or dizziness. Other risks include bleeding, infection or rupture of the bladder. In some cases the bladder may continue to leak following surgery, which may require an additional operation to remedy.

How is bladder augmentation performed?

Bladder augmentation can be performed as a traditional open surgery, which requires a large incision on the abdomen. A portion of intestine or the stomach is attached to the bladder as a patch. Surgeons at Children's Hospital Boston have recently completed an 18-month study to perfect a method for performing the procedure using state-of-the-art robotic surgery equipment. This minimally-invasive approach significantly reduces pain, scarring, and recovery time.

What is the long-term outlook for a child who requires a bladder augmentation?

Bladder augmentation can significantly improve the quality of life of most patients. A few patients recover spontaneous voiding function after bladder augmentation, but many others must learn to pass a catheter backward through the urethra to the bladder (clean intermittent catheterization) to drain urine from the body.



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