Diagnosis and treatment of urethral prolapse in children

Objectives. To review published reports on urethral prolapse in the pediatr ic population, with a focus on diagnosis and management, and to do a retros pective review of 20 cases of urethral prolapse at an urban hospital. Methods. A retrospective chart review of 20 consecutive cases of urethral p rolapse in the pediatric population at Kings County Hospital was done. A re view of the published reports on urethral prolapse from 1937 to the present was included in this study. Results. Twenty patients with urethral prolapse were treated at Kings Count y Hospital during a 10-year period. Patients were identified by perineal bl eeding and diagnosed by physical examination. All patients were successfull y treated by excision of the prolapsed urethral mucosa and suturing of the remaining mucosa to the vestibule. Conclusions. Urethral prolapse is an uncommon entity that occurs primarily in prepubertal black girls. Patients may be successfully treated by excisio n of the prolapsed mucosa and suturing of the proximal urethra to the vesti bule. (C) 1999, Elsevier Science Inc.