Postpubertal Urodynamic and Upper Urinary Tract Changes in Children With Conservatively Treated Myelomeningocele

Abstract

This study demonstrates that total cystometric bladder capacity, maximum detrusor pressure and detrusor leak point pressure increase significantly in patients with myelomeningocele following puberty. The increase in bladder capacity could be attributed to increasing bladder outlet resistance resulting from prostate gland enlargement in males and estrogenization in females. A significant number of patients spontaneously achieve continence at puberty, and continence becomes more likely when increased total cystometric bladder capacity is not associated with an increase in maximum detrusor pressure. Finally, no significant postpubertal upper urinary tract deterioration was observed in our series.