The clinical and social benefits derived hom bladder augmentation are
well known. Most procedures involve the implantation of gastric or int
estinal segments into the bladder These have problems of the acid-haem
aturia syndrome, mucous production, urinary infection, stone formation
and metabolic disturbances. Lang and colleagues presented their exper
iences in 1994 with detrusorectomy alone as an alternative procedure.
We have performed detrusorectomy with Mitrofanoff stoma on 9 patients,
protecting the denuded bladder mucosa with omentum. This represents 5
0% of the bladder reconstructions managed over an 18-month period. Fol
low-up urodynamics studies have demonstrated a compliant low-pressure
system of good capacity in all but one case. Apart from this failure,
all the rest are continent. One boy suffered a ruptured bladder due to
rough play and another suffered excruciating bladder pain on drainage
. He was managed by the instillation of bupivicaine (4 mg/kg) twice da
ily. Successful management of cases depends on intensive support of th
e outreach nursing service.