Obstetrical Outcomes in Women With a History of Bladder Augmentation

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate possible problems during pregnancy or delivery in women with pediatric bladder augmentation.

Methods

Eleven of 59 women, who had undergone bladder augmentation in our pediatric hospital during 1990–2019, had given birth in our hospital district afterwards and their obstetrical records were evaluated.

Results

Median age at first delivery was 32 years (range 26–42). Six patients had myelomeningocele, two had bladder exstrophy and the remainder had VATER association, epispadias or traumatic paraplegia with vesicovaginal fistula. The patients had altogether 18 children (all singletons). Catheterizations were performed through continent stoma in six cases and through urethra in five cases. None of the patients needed an indwelling catheter before delivery. Antibiotic prophylaxis was initially in use during two pregnancies. Symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) developed for five mothers in 11 pregnancies without prophylaxis and prophylaxis was continued after UTI in these cases. Three of the five mothers with UTI were treated with intravenous antibiotics due to pseudomonas infection (three infections) or pyelonephritis (one).

Two patients with myelomeningocele delivered vaginally (one woman three times and one woman once). In the remaining 14 cases a cesarean section (CS) was performed (two urgent and one emergency CS). A urologist was present in seven CSs. Some difficulties accessing the uterus were reported in seven surgeries. There were 10-term, three late-preterm and one very preterm delivery. In four cases the information on gestational age was unavailable. Six newborns had respiratory problems, two had severe asphyxia. One newborn had myelomeningocele like her mother.

Conclusions

Risk for UTIs during pregnancy is high in bladder augmentation patients, hence prophylactic antibiotics are justified. A multidisciplinary team should be involved in the planning of delivery. When indicated for obstetrical or urological reasons, an elective cesarean section with a urologist present may be the most rational option for many, although vaginal delivery is possible in selected patients.