Ileal conduit urinary diversion in children. A long term follow-up.

In recent years ileal conduit diversion for children with neuropathic bladders secondary to myelomeningocele has been performed less frequently than previously, mainly because of reports of long term upper tract deterioration in these patients. The results of this series of 144 ileal conduit urinary diversions show that in the 85 children diverted for more than ten years, there has been improvement or preservation of their upper tracts in 80%. This compares favourably with the results of a recently reported series of colonic conduit diversions and consequently we feel that there is still a place for ileal conduit diversion in this group of patients. The early and late complications are described and means of minimising these are discussed.