One-stage correction of epispadia to Macedo in a girl 3 years old

Abstract

Introduction. Epispadias is an extremely rare disease. Epispadias in women is 5–6 times less common than in men. The incidence of female epispadias ranges from 1 in 160,000 to 480,000 live births. Epispadias can be diagnosed by a thorough examination of the genitals. Treatment of epispadias is only surgical, which is quite difficult and requires experience. The literature that discusses female epispadias is very limited. In this article, we would like to report on the surgical treatment of isolated epispadias in a 3-year-old girl at the Almazov National Medical Research Center.Clinical case. A 3-year-old girl presented with the main complaint of urinary incontinence since birth, during the day and at night. Urinary incontinence was not caused by physical activity and was not aggravated by eating/drinking. Physical examination showed that the external genital organs of the patient have underdeveloped labia minora, abnormal urethra, bifurcated clitoris. Laboratory results were within the normal range. Voiding cystourethrography revealed urine leakage during the filling phase. The bladder wall was normal, there was no vesicoureteral reflux. The patient underwent simultaneous surgical interventions, consisting in plastic surgery of the urethra and reconstruction of the bladder neck, plastic surgery of the clitoris and labia minora. There were no intraoperative and postoperative complications. After 1 week and 6 months of observation, the patient achieved urinary retention, the surgical wound healed primarily.Discussion. Epispadias is a rare condition that can vary in severity from mild to severe. Severely, splitting of the entire urethra occurs, involving the bladder neck, causing permanent urinary incontinence in the patient. Cases of epispadias are quite difficult to diagnose. The doctor should dilute the labia majora and carefully conduct a physical examination. The objective goals of the surgical treatment of epispadias are to achieve urinary retention, restore the anatomy, function and cosmetic appearance of the urethra and genitals. One-stage reconstruction is a modern surgical technique used to treat isolated epispadias in women.Conclusion. Epispadias in women is a rare congenital anomaly that is often not detected in childhood. For isolated epispadias in a girl, one-stage surgical correction is currently preferred.