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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2001

Combined bladder neck reconstruction and epispadias repair for exstrophy-epispadias complex.

PURPOSE: The achievement of satisfactory continence in the management of classic bladder exstrophy remains a surgical challenge. During the last 20 years a staged approach to the management of the exstrophy-epispadias complex has been used at many exstrophy centers to attain this goal. In select cases repairs can be combined to reduce the number of mandatory operations to achieve continence. We retrospectively review our experience with, and long-term results and complications of combined bladder neck reconstruction and epispadias repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 19 boys with classic bladder exstrophy (17) and complete male epispadias (2) underwent combined bladder neck reconstruction and epispadias repair between 1982 and 1999. Primary closure was performed elsewhere in 16 cases and osteotomy was performed at primary closure in 8 (42%). All patients have undergone modified Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair except for 2 who underwent a Young procedure. RESULTS: At the time of combined bladder neck and epispadias repair mean patient age was 5.2 years (range 2.5 to 10). Mean bladder capacity was 119 ml. (range 60 to 250). Of the 19 patients 13 (69%) are completely continent, and 2 (11%) are partially continent and 1 remained incontinent. Three patients did not gain satisfactory functional bladder capacity after combined repair, and underwent bladder augmentation and a continent diversion procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Combined bladder neck and epispadias repair is applicable in experienced hands but careful patient selection and long-term followup are the most important issues to develop criteria to select those best to undergo this procedure.

Bladder Exstrophy↗

PubMed1995

The Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair in exstrophy and epispadias: lessons learned.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated our experience with the Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair to determine the lessons that have been learned with the increased experience and follow-up. METHODS: A total of 75 boys (60 with bladder exstrophy and 15 with complete epispadias) underwent a Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair at our institute in the last 6 years. Primary repair was performed in 58 boys (45 with exstrophy and 13 with epispadias), and secondary repair was performed after prior failed closure in 17 boys (12 at the secondary exstrophy closure, 3 with exstrophy, and 2 with complete epispadias). RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 28 months, all patients had a horizontal or downward angled penis while standing. The incidence of urethrocutaneous fistulas in the immediate postoperative state was 21% and at 3 months was 15%. The incidence of urethrocutaneous fistulas was no more in those patients in whom paraexstrophy skin flaps were used at anterior closure than in those in whom the urethral plate was left intact. Two patients developed a urethral stricture at the proximal anastomotic area, and 4 patients had minor skin separation of the dorsal penile skin closure. Catheterization or cystoscopy, or both, has been performed in 60 patients and revealed an easily negotiable urethral channel in all. CONCLUSIONS: The Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair offers a straighter urethra, better correction of chordee and cosmesis, and a lower fistula rate in the exstrophy or epispadias patient.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1994

Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair in male epispadias and bladder exstrophy.

A total of 16 boys (8 with primary epispadias and 8 with bladder exstrophy) underwent epispadias reconstruction as a 1-stage procedure. Reverse meatal advancement of MAGPI, ventral transposition of the neourethra and chordee correction by corporeal rotation or "cavernocavernostomy" were performed as primary (13 boys) or secondary/salvage (3 boys) procedures. At a mean followup of 27 months all children had a horizontal or downward angled penis while standing. Catheterization in 10 children revealed an easily negotiable neourethral channel. Minor revision surgery was necessary in the area of previous paraexstrophy flaps in 2 cases, and 1 child required neourethral tapering and proximal anastomotic revision. The Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair produces a good functional and cosmetic result.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Periurethral muscle complex reassembly for exstrophy-epispadias repair.

PURPOSE: Continence is a difficult goal in exstrophy-epispadias complex repair. It is presumed that all anatomical components involved in the exstrophy-epispadias abnormality are present but laterally and anteriorly displaced. The penile disassembly technique for epispadias restores the normal anatomical relationship of the male genital components. Its extension to complete primary bladder exstrophy closure enables deeper positioning of the bladder neck within the pelvic diaphragm. We identified the perineal striated muscular complex and present its appropriate periurethral reassembly as a main step in exstrophy-epispadias complex repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bladder exstrophy and epispadias repairs were performed in 10 male and 3 female consecutive patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex, including 1-stage reconstruction in 2 male newborns and 2 females with exstrophy, and as further surgery in a female with cloacal exstrophy and previous failed 1-stage repair, 4 males with incontinent epispadias (secondary repair in 1) and 4 males with epispadias in whom exstrophy closure had been previously done. In the males after bladder plate closure and corporeal body splitting a sagittal incision was made in the intersymphyseal tissue and extended posteriorly to the perineal body midline. The bipolar electrical stimulator was used to identify pelvic muscle components in the sagittal plane and reapproximate them along the tubularized posterior urethra to form the periurethral muscle complex. In the 3 females the urethral plate and vagina were similarly mobilized posterior through the sagittal incision of the perineal body. No patient underwent bladder neck plasty. RESULTS: At 9 months to 4 years of followup cosmesis was good in 12 patients, while 1 required secondary glanular urethroplasty. There was mild pyelectasis in 3 cases but no severe hydronephrosis and no renal function deterioration. Pyelonephritis developed in 6 patients (46%). Cystography at 1 year showed that bladder capacity was 35 to 80 and 65 to 120 cc in exstrophy and epispadias cases, respectively. There was cyclic voiding with 30 to 90-minute dry intervals in 7 patients (54%), of whom 5 had exstrophy and 2 had epispadias. Daytime voiding control with a 2 to 3-hour voiding interval was achieved in 1 female with exstrophy and 2 patients with epispadias (23%). Incontinence was present in 2 patients with previous exstrophy closure and 1 with cloacal exstrophy (23%). CONCLUSIONS: Early restoration of a physiological vesicourethral balance of coordinated activity is feasible for the progressive achievement of continence in patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex. Sagittal splitting of the perineal tissue with identification of the muscle components as well as midline reassembly of the periurethral striated muscular complex helps to reconfigure the pelvic anatomy in a more normal fashion and allows better restoration of coordinated vesicourethral activity.

Bladder Exstrophy↗

PubMed2003

In vitro fertilization and the cloacal-bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex: is there an association?

PURPOSE: The cloacal-bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex represents a collection of congenital malformations caused by failed mesenchymal development during the first trimester. We sought to determine whether the exstrophy-epispadias complex is overrepresented among children conceived by in vitro fertilization (IVF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The clinic charts of all patients born between 1998 and 2001 who presented to our institution with the exstrophy-epispadias complex were reviewed. Four patients conceived by IVF and born with exstrophy-epispadias were identified and telephone interviews were conducted with the parents. Statistical analysis using clinical data and available United States population data was performed. RESULTS: Of 78 clinic patients with exstrophy-epispadias born during a 4-year period 4 were conceived using IVF. An estimated 12% to 14% of children born in the United States with the exstrophy-epispadias complex are evaluated annually at our institution. During the years 1997 to 2000, 112,137 children in the United States were conceived using IVF. According to published incidence data, approximately 5 children with exstrophy-epispadias would be expected among this entire population. Expected numbers of children in the United States conceived by IVF and born with exstrophy-epispadias during a 4-year period were calculated based on the observed number in our clinic population. A resulting 7.3-fold relative increase in incidence was determined (p = 0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: The exstrophy-epispadias complex appears to occur more frequently in children conceived by in vitro fertilization.

Bladder Exstrophy↗

PubMed1999

Epispadias repair using the Mitchell technique.

PURPOSE: The results of epispadias repair using Mitchell's technique in nine patients is analyzed and the advantages of the procedure discussed. METHODS: Nine boys aged between 6 weeks and 6 years underwent epispadias repair between November 1996 and March 1998 (Penopubic epispadias, inferior vesical fissure, and midpenile epispadias, one patient each; exstrophy epispadias complex, six patients). Eight patients had first attempt at repair of epispadias. Two patients had closure of exstrophy and epispadias at one stage. RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 10 months, all children had a conical glans, eight patients had ventral orthotopic meatus, and one had coronal hypospadiac meatus. Minor penopubic fistula developed in one patient. Six patients had downward angled penis, and three had horizontal penis in a flaccid state. All children were observed to have good erections during sleep. CONCLUSIONS: Mitchell's technique of epispadias repair allows an anatomic reconstruction of the penis with superior cosmetic and functional results. Long-term follow-up studies are necessary to evaluate the genital functions.

Child↗

PubMed1998

Anatomical correction of the exstrophy-epispadias complex: analysis of 34 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical procedures required for anatomical reconstruction of the bladder and penis in the exstrophy-epispadias complex. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All primary exstrophy-epispadias repairs carried out by one surgeon between 1987 and 1997 were reviewed. Bladder closure consisted of full extraperitoneal mobilization, transpositional omphaloplasty, drainage with ureteric and urethral catheters and immobilization with a 'frog-leg' plaster-cast or 'mermaid' dressings. Osteotomies were always performed when bladder closure was attempted after 37 h of age. Before 1990 the osteotomies were posterior vertical iliac (one patient) and subsequently anterior oblique iliac (10 patients). Pre-peritoneal herniotomies, in the absence of a clinical hernia, were included in the primary procedure after 1992. A modified Cantwell technique was used for epispadias repair and this was undertaken at a median of 16 months after bladder closure (range 6-30). RESULTS: Thirty-four patients (27 male) were reviewed; one patient had a chromosomal abnormality, a deletion in the short arm of chromosome 4. The male infants required a median of four procedures (range 2-5) for bladder closure, epispadias reconstruction and herniotomies, while the females needed a median of two (range 2-5). Complete bladder dehiscence, requiring re-closure with osteotomies, occurred in three cases (9%, two male). There were no dehiscences in the primary osteotomy group. Fistulae after epispadias repair occurred in four patients (17%). The bladder capacity increased to > 60 mL in 10 of 15 males by 36 months after epispadias repair. Only two of seven female infants attained a capacity of > 60 mL. Of the 15 infants who did not undergo herniotomy at primary closure, 13 subsequently developed inguinal hernias (one uni- and 11 bilateral) with incarceration occurring in two. Twelve infants underwent herniotomy at primary closure and six developed subsequent hernias (two uni- and four bilateral; P = 0.05) with documented incarceration in two. CONCLUSIONS: Anatomical correction of the exstrophy-epispadias complex remains challenging, but can be achieved with complication rates of < 20% for each stage. Bladder volumes large enough to permit adequate bladder neck reconstruction can be anticipated after epispadias repair in a large proportion of male infants, but remains small in female infants with low outlet resistance. Inguinal herniotomy at the time of bladder closure significantly reduces the incidence of subsequent herniation, which nevertheless remains high.

Bladder Exstrophy↗

PubMed2004

Female epispadias: are we missing the diagnosis?

OBJECTIVE: To describe three of four female patients with occult epispadias, as usually epispadias is reported to be a rare condition in females (1/480,000), and obvious and easy to diagnose, but less severe variants may still involve urethral sphincter incompetence in the absence of obvious clinical signs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The hospital records over a 10-year period (1 January 1991 to 31 December 2000) were reviewed to find all female patients diagnosed with epispadias. Data were collected from the Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity for the number of live births per year for the decade studied, and the incidence of female epispadias determined. RESULTS: Over the 10-year period there were 13 patients with a diagnosis of epispadias, from 636,698 total live births; four were female and nine male. Each of the female patients had varying degrees of epispadias; three had subtle signs with apparently normal external genitalia, and only one had a bifid clitoris. However, even the most minor variant case had a palpable notch in the symphysis pubis, and an 'oblong' external urethral meatus. Thus the incidence of female epispadias is at least 1/160,000. CONCLUSION: Epispadias in females may be up to three times more common than previously expected, but even experienced clinicians can miss the diagnosis. The importance of a careful examination should be emphasized, especially in female patients with chronic wetting of unknown cause. A bifid clitoris is an important sign but not always present. Key diagnostic features include drug-resistant wetting, a very low leak pressure on cystometrography, a palpable gap in the pubic symphysis and an abnormal oval-shaped external urethral meatus.

Child↗

PubMed2000

The modified Cantwell-Ransley repair for exstrophy and epispadias: 10-year experience.

PURPOSE: We evaluate our experience with the modified Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair technique to determine the complications and long-term results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modified Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair was performed during the last 10 years in 93 males of whom 79 had classic bladder exstrophy and 14 had complete epispadias. Primary repair was performed in 65 boys with classic bladder exstrophy and 12 with epispadias, and secondary repair was done after prior failed reconstruction in 14 boys with classic exstrophy and 2 with complete epispadias. RESULTS: At mean followup of 68 months 87 patients had a horizontal or downward angled penis while standing. The incidence of urethrocutaneous fistulas was 23% in the immediate postoperative period and 19% at 3 months. A urethral stricture at the proximal anastomotic area developed in 7 patients and 5 (4 with exstrophy and 1 with epispadias) had minor skin separations of the dorsal penile skin closure. Catheterization or cystoscopy in 77 cases revealed an easily negotiable neourethral channel. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Cantwell-Ransley epispadias repair produces an excellent functional and cosmetic result.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1987

Epidemiology of bladder exstrophy and epispadias: a communication from the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems.

A study of infants with bladder exstrophy or epispadias was based on data from ten malformation monitoring systems around the world. The material is derived from nearly 6.3 million births. The recorded prevalence at birth of bladder exstrophy was 3.3 per 100,000 births and of epispadias (without bladder exstrophy) 2.4 per 100,000. The recorded rates of bladder exstrophy did not vary between the monitoring systems, but the rates of epispadias did. Furthermore, nearly all registered infants with epispadias were males. The sex ratio for bladder exstrophy was 1.5:1. Perinatal deaths occurred mainly when other malformations were also present. There was an increased risk in this group of malformations in infants of women aged less than 20 years. At high parity (3+), an increased risk was observed for bladder exstrophy, but there was a decreased risk for epispadias. The birth weight distribution was shifted slightly more to the left in isolated bladder exstrophy than in isolated epispadias, but was considerably shifted to the left when other malformations existed with bladder exstrophy. Most infants with other malformations belonged to the cloacal exstrophy sequence. There was no definite time trend between 1970 and 1985 in the prevalence at birth of bladder exstrophy. The study demonstrates how data from different monitoring registries can be pooled to characterize a rare malformation.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

The inheritance of the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

The inheritance pattern of the exstrophy-epispadias complex was investigated by a combined literature review and a survey of the personal experience of pediatric urologists in North and South America, and Europe. Bladder exstrophy recurred in only 9 of approximately 2,500 families (1 in 275) with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias. The recurrence of the exstrophy-epispadias complex in offspring of parents with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias has never been described previously. We identified 215 offspring produced by parents with bladder exstrophy or epispadias, and bladder exstrophy was inherited in 3 of the offspring (1 in 70 live births). The recurrence of bladder exstrophy in offspring of parents with the exstrophy-epispadias complex is greater than previously assumed.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1991

Bladder function and dysfunction in exstrophy and epispadias.

Bladder exstrophy and epispadias are congenital abnormalities of the urinary bladder. Evaluation of bladder function before and after bladder-neck reconstruction has not been done in patients with these conditions. We report the preliminary results of a prospective study of lower-urinary-tract function in 36 children (10 girls, 26 boys; age range 1.5-16 years) with bladder exstrophy and epispadias. Children's bladder function was measured by cystometry and cystography, and their upper urinary tracts were examined by ultrasound imaging. Normal bladder function was seen in children with primary epispadias but this was severely impaired in children who had had conventional bladder-neck surgery for continence, implying that this may not be the optimal treatment. Contrary to current assumption, children with closed exstrophy bladders are not capable of normal function, and the abnormalities we identified may be a major cause of upper-urinary-tract damage and may impair development of bladder capacity. Although unrecognised in the past, involuntary bladder contractions are a primary cause of urine leakage persisting in children with exstrophy and epispadias after continence surgery. Detailed functional testing should become a routine part of the evaluation of children with exstrophy and epispadias.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Evolution of male epispadias repair: 16-year experience.

PURPOSE: We review our experience during the last 16 years, adopting different surgical approaches for epispadias repair, and compare the results of complete penile disassembly technique with perineal muscular complex reassembly since 1995 with previous repairs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1984 to 1999, 58 epispadias repairs were performed in 53 male patients 3 days to 13 years old, including 18 with primary penopubic epispadias, 35 with bladder exstrophy and 5 treated with secondary genito-urethroplasty after previous repairs of the exstrophic complex. Cases were divided into 2 periods of the surgical procedure. Different techniques succeeded in 41 patients in the first decade (group 1) while the complete penile disassembly with perineal muscular complex reassembly technique was used in 17 patients during the last 5-year period (group 2). Results of both groups were compared, and Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of the 41 group 1 cases complications (mostly fistula and/or urethral stenosis) in 21 (51%) required 1 or multiple operations. Continence was never achieved with urethroplasty alone. Cosmetic appearance of the phallus was not satisfactory in 23 cases (29%) and urethral catheterization was difficult in 8 (19%). Of the 17 group 2 cases only 2 complications (11%) occurred (1 fistula and 1 distal urethral stenosis). Dry intervals or voluntary continence was achieved in 6 of the 10 patients with exstrophy and in all but 1 with epispadias without bladder neck surgery. The penis had a satisfactory cosmetic appearance and no dorsal chordee with an easily catheterizable urethra was noted. The complication rate was significantly different in the 2 groups (Fisher's exact test p = 0.0042). CONCLUSIONS: The complete penile disassembly with perineal muscular complex reassembly technique, with deeper positioning of the urethra in the perineal musculature, seems to guarantee a significant step forward in functional epispadias repair.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

A ventral rotational skin flap to improve cosmesis and avoid chordee recurrence in epispadias repair.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a technical modification that facilitates dorsal skin closure, improves cosmesis and eliminates chordee recurrence secondary to contracture of the dorsal penile skin in the repair of epispadias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eleven patients with penopubic epispadias (mean age 1.8 years) had the epispadias repaired using a modified ventral penile skin flap. Four patients had isolated epispadias and seven had had a previous primary closure of bladder exstrophy. Nine patients underwent the Cantwell-Ransley technique, leaving the meatus in a glanular position. Two patients were repaired using the penile disassembly technique of Mitchell and Bägli, because they had a short urethral plate. A ventral island skin flap was fashioned, starting at the base of the penis. Dissection was carried ventrally into the scrotum to allow for adequate dorsal flap transposition. The flap was rotated laterally to shift the suture line from the midline and to cover the dorsal aspect of the penis with untouched penile shaft skin. Redundant ventral foreskin was discarded. RESULTS: All patients had an uneventful course after surgery. Dorsal penile skin was viable in every case and no patient developed recurrence of chordee or a urethrocutaneous fistula. The cosmetic result was excellent in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal skin closure using lateral rotation of ventral penile skin flap improves cosmesis after epispadias repair and eliminates the recurrence of chordee secondary to midline dorsal scarring.

Cicatrix↗

PubMed1995

The evolution of penile reconstruction in epispadias repair: a report of 180 cases.

From 1978 to 1993, 180 boys with epispadias (85) and the exstrophy/epispadias complex (95) underwent epispadias reconstruction at our institution. The 180 patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1--2-stage epispadias reconstruction with dissection of the corporo (30 patients), group 2--pedicled preputial tube urethroplasty either alone or with a lyophilized human dural patch to the corpora for correction of penile deformity (35), group 3--pedicled preputial tube urethroplasty and corporeal rotation (40), and group 4--a modified Cantwell epispadias repair incorporating complete tubularized urethroplasty, cavernocavernostomy and corporeal rotation. In 46 patients from groups 1 to 3 the primary outcome was not considered satisfactory and they underwent radical penile revision with the modified Cantwell technique. Followup ranges from 1 to 15 years (mean 6 years). We conclude that a good cosmetic result can be achieved in almost all cases using the modified Cantwell technique as a primary procedure in experienced hands. This technique has a low complication rate and can be used as a salvage procedure following previous unsuccessful epispadias reconstruction using other techniques.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Morphometric analysis of smooth muscle in the exstrophy-epispadias complex.

PURPOSE: In bladder exstrophy and to a lesser extent in epispadias the muscular tissue in the bladder wall may often be replaced by collagen. The aim of our study was to assess the relative changes of smooth muscle versus connective tissue in patients with the exstrophy-epispadias complex. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine full thickness detrusor biopsies from children with the exstrophy-epispadias complex were analyzed. Biopsies were stained with the Masson trichrome method to differentiate muscular tissue from collagen. At x50 magnification using image software for computerized morphometry the areas of smooth muscle and collagen were measured and expressed as a percent. As controls, detrusor biopsies from 8 children with unilateral obstructive megaureter or ectopic ureter were analyzed using the same method. RESULTS: The average rates of smooth muscle in children with the exstrophy-epispadias complex were 7, 19.3 and 31.5%, respectively, in newborns, and before and after bladder neck reconstruction. In controls the rate averaged 56.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of smooth muscle-to-connective tissue increases from the newborn period to puberty in the exstrophy-epispadias complex. After staged reconstruction is completed this ratio remains below normal, although it is increased. Such a change may represent a histological marker of the inadequate volume increase of some of these bladders.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1998

Combined bladder closure and epispadias repair in the reconstruction of bladder exstrophy.

PURPOSE: Children with bladder exstrophy in whom initial closure fails are less likely to achieve adequate bladder capacity for later bladder neck reconstruction and continence. Repeat bladder closure may be combined with epispadias repair as initial management, decreasing the need for repeat anesthesia as well as providing increased outlet resistance to permit bladder growth in preparation for later bladder neck reconstruction. We compared results in boys who underwent combined bladder closure and epispadias repair or staged reconstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 boys with a mean age of 22 months with bladder exstrophy were referred for bladder closure after previous closure had failed in 15 and for delayed primary closure in 1. Osteotomies were performed in all patients, with bladder closure and epispadias repair as initial treatment. Results were compared to those in 21 boys with a mean age of 26 months in whom exstrophy closure had failed, and who underwent standard staged reconstruction by repeat closure followed by epispadias repair and subsequent bladder neck reconstruction in those who achieved adequate bladder capacity. RESULTS: At a mean followup of 87 months fistula rates were similar in the 2 groups. Eventual bladder neck reconstruction was possible in 69% of the patients in each group. In addition, 2 boys in the combined repair group achieved continence before bladder neck reconstruction was performed. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend epispadias repair combined with bladder exstrophy closure for treating failed exstrophy closure or late initial closure. Operative complications and results are comparable to those in patients in whom previous exstrophy closure failed and who undergo standard staged repair.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗

PubMed1998

Multicenter experience with the Mitchell technique for epispadias repair.

PURPOSE: We present a multicenter experience using the Mitchell epispadias technique to determine if satisfactory results could be obtained by various pediatric urologists at multiple centers using the same technique to repair epispadias. This particular technique involves complete disassembly of the penis into 2 separate hemicorporeal glandular bodies and a separate urethral plate, and relies on the unique blood supply to the epispadiac phallus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 17 boys 11 months to 21 years old underwent the Mitchell procedure for epispadias at 4 institutions by 6 different surgeons between 1994 and 1996. One patient in this group had undergone prior epispadias repair, which had failed. RESULTS: At followup (mean 13.5 months) 3 boys had pinpoint penopubic fistulas, which resolved spontaneously in 2. The 21-year-old patient had a complete wound dehiscence. All boys with intact repairs have straight erections, orthotopic meatus and satisfactory appearances. There were 15 boys with a conical glans appearance and 1 exhibiting glandular disproportion. There was 1 episode of postoperative pyelonephritis. CONCLUSIONS: The Mitchell technique for repair of epispadias is reproducible and successful in the hands of pediatric urologists from different centers. Chordee is reliably corrected, erectile function preserved, the urethra ventrally situated in an anatomically precise fashion and satisfactory cosmesis achieved.

Adolescent↗