Bladder exstrophy is a rare birth defect in which the infant is born with its bladder exposed on the outside of its body. This complex condition involves the urinary tract, reproductive tract, intestinal tract and musculoskeletal system. Surgical procedures and tests will likely continue into young adulthood.
Cloacal exstrophy is a very rare condition in which a child is born with their internal abdominal organs outside of the body and the bladder is separated in half. The child may also have imperforate anus, spinal defects and/or other organs exposed. It is treated with reconstructive surgery.
Early in fetal development, the anorectal, urogenital and reproductive systems meet in the same opening, called a cloaca. If the tracts do not separate before birth into three different tracts, the infant girl will be born with a cloaca, which means the rectum/anus, the urethra and the vagina share the same opening. Surgery to rebuild the anatomy is done in several stages.
Early in fetal development, the anorectal, urogenital and reproductive systems meet in the same opening, called a cloaca. When the urinary and reproductive tracts do not separate, an infant girl will be born with a persistent urogenital sinus, which means the vagina and the urethra share the same opening. Surgery to separate the vagina and the urethra is the only treatment.
With this condition, the bladder is essentially paralyzed because of failure of the nerves that tell the bladder muscles to tighten or release. Treatment may include catherization, antibiotic therapy to reduce the incidence of infection, placement of an artificial sphincter and/or surgery.
Treatments
Robotic-assisted reconstruction
Mitrofanoff channel/appendicovesicostomy
MACE continence enema
Bladder outlet procedures for urinary incontinence