A vesicostomy is a temporary, surgical treatment of bladder opening to the outside of the body i.e. lower belly that will allow urine to drain, and prevents the urinary tract infection or any other major damage to the kidneys. Generally infants or children below 5 years require a vesicostomy for the following reasons:
-
If the child is born with a clause which results in bladder outlet obstruction. This occurs in condition such as posterior urethral valves (PUV). A vesicostomy allow the bladder to drain in the diaper. Later, the bladder will be examined with an endoscope it is a flexible tube that includes a miniature camera.
-
If the child is having a neurogenic bladder due to condition of spina bifida. To identifies neurogenic bladders a special testing called urodynamics that will diagnose at risk to damage the kidneys are in. In such cases a standard treatment is done, to place the child on a bladder-relaxing medicine and begin catheterization. This type of treatments lowers the pressure in the bladder, which helps in avoids the damage that causes to the kidneys. In case where this treatment does not safely establish good bladder pressure, a vesicostomy treatment will allows temporary drainage of the bladder and protects the kidney.
PROCEDURE:
-
This procedure is performed under a general anesthesia in the operating room.
-
A opening is created between the abdominal wall and the bladder. This opening is created on the outside of child’s body that is done in the abdomen (belly) just below the umbilicus (belly button).
-
This opening looks like a small slit enclosed by reddish/ pink tissue. Urine will drains continuously from this hole, so urine won’t get trapped inside the bladder.
-
The urine wihich is trapped can reflux (‘back up’) into the kidneys & may cause damage. Even infections may also caused by trapped urine.
