Treatment of incontinence in children with bladder exstrophy after rectal urinary diversion: The anal sling procedure

Purpose: An original technique for reinforcement of the anal sphincter usin g a sling prosthesis with a flexible fixing point that prevents incontinenc e and rectal prolapse is presented. Materials and Methods: Of 43 patients with exstrophy who have undergone uri nary rectal diversion between 1988 and 1997 incontinence was observed in 9 boys and 5 girls. From January 1993 to December 1998 these children were tr eated with an original method, the anal sling procedure. Results: There were no postoperative complications. Investigations revealed no urinary or fecal incontinence after a mean followup of 3.2 years (range 6 months to 6(1)/(2) years). Conclusions: A short and simple operation eliminates incontinence after rec tal urinary diversion in patients with bladder exstrophy. It can be used as an alternative to the formation of an isolated urinary reservoir.