Bladder changes after catheterizable channel creation in adults with cerebral palsy who are in chronic urinary retention.

AIMS: Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by motor impairments as a result of brain injury during development. Patients can have neurogenic bladder dysfunction and are often unable to catheterize through their native urethra. Catheterizable channel (CC) creation can facilitate clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). We have observed that patients with large capacity, low-pressure bladders can develop de novo neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) postoperatively. We sought to better characterize this finding.

METHODS: We reviewed the charts of patients 17 years or older with CP seen between 2006 and 2017. Patients undergoing creation of any type of CC without augmentation cystoplasty, due to adequate storage on pre-operative urodynamics (UDS), were included. Pre- and post-operative UDS were reviewed. Frequency of incontinence and use of anticholinergics or intravesical injections of onabotulinum toxin A (Btx) were reviewed.

RESULTS: Eight patients with CP underwent CC creation without augmentation. Preoperatively, six of eight patients were in chronic retention with two others performing CIC. Following CC creation, patients in retention required additional NDO management with anticholinergics, mirabegron, or onabotulinumtoxin A. Among those with complete UDS data, 67% demonstrated lower maximum cystometric capacity postoperatively. Median follow-up was 25 months.

CONCLUSIONS: CC creation facilitates CIC in adults with CP who are in chronic retention due to pseudodyssynergia. Despite preoperative UDS suggesting an adequate capacity, low-pressure bladder, such patients often manifest de novo NDO and worsening incontinence upon initiation of CIC after surgery. These findings should be considered when determining whether to perform augmentation at the time of CC in adults with CP.