Gastrocystoplasty: technical and metabolic characteristics of the most versatile childhood bladder augmentation modality.

The authors report on 23 patients who underwent complex continent urinary reconstructions, made successful by the selection of gastrocystoplasty as the chosen augmentation modality. The mean patient age was 6.1 years, and the mean weight was 17.9 kg. The minimum follow-up period was 1.5 years. The bladder capacity increased from a preoperative mean of 77.8 +/- 52.2 (SD) mL to a postoperative mean of 303.5 +/- 117.4 mL (P < .000001). No adverse effects on renal function or serum electrolyte composition were encountered, and there were no instances of acidosis or alkalosis. Continence was achieved in 91% of patients. In two patients (0.9%), hematuria-dysuria developed; one case was extremely mild. The other occurred only during a period of severe oliguria and resolved after transplantation. Gastrointestinal complications were minimal. Five patients had end-stage renal disease at the time of reconstruction and have since had successful transplantation. Gastrocystoplasty is particularly applicable to the pediatric population because of its unique anatomic and metabolic characteristics, which bestow tremendous versatility.