In utero myelomeningocoele repair and urological outcomes: the first 100 cases of a prospective analysis. Is there an improvement in bladder function?

Abstract

To evaluate the first 100 cases of in utero myelomeningocoele (MMC) repair and urological outcomes in a prospective analysis aiming to define possible improvement in bladder function. We used a protocol consisting of a detailed medical history, urinary tract ultrasonography, voiding cystourethrography, and urodynamic evaluation. Patients were categorised into four groups: normal, high risk (overactive bladder with a detrusor leak-point pressure >40 cm H₂ O and high filling pressures also >40 cm H₂ O), incontinent, and underactivity (underactive bladder with post-void residual urine), and patients were treated accordingly. We evaluated 100 patients, at a mean age of 5.8 months (median 4 months), classified as high risk in 52.6%, incontinent in 27.4%, with underactive bladder in 4.2%, and only 14.7% had a normal bladder profile. Clean intermittent catheterisation was initiated in 57.3% of the patients and anticholinergics in 52.6%. Antibiotic prophylaxis was initiated in 19.1% of the patients presenting with vesico-ureteric reflux. The high incidence of abnormal bladder patterns suggests little benefit of in utero MMC surgery concerning the urinary tract.