Bladder Augmentation—Open Surgery
(Augmentation Cystoplasty—Open Surgery)
Definition
Bladder augmentation is surgery to make the bladder bigger.
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Reasons for Procedure
Bladder augmentation makes the bladder large enough to collect urine. It may be used to treat:
- A bladder that is too small—due to a blockage, birth defect or other problem
- Overactive bladder—muscle problems that cause urine to leak
- Neurogenic bladder— nerve problems in the bladder that cause urine to leak or not come out
Possible Complications
Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:
- Excess bleeding
- Problems from anesthesia
- Infection
- Blood clots
- Bladder rupture
- Not being able to hold urine
- Higher risk of kidney stones
Things that may raise the risk of problems are:
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
The surgical team may meet with you to talk about:
- Anesthesia options
- Any allergies you may have
- Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
- Fasting before surgery, such avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
- Whether you need a ride to or from surgery
- Tests that will need to be done before surgery
- Cleaning the colon before surgery
Anesthesia
General anesthesia will be used. You will be asleep.
Description of the Procedure
An incision will be made in the belly. An incision will also be made on the top part of the bladder. A part of the intestine or stomach will be removed and placed over the opening in the bladder. This new part will work like a patch to make the bladder bigger. The doctor will sew it into place. The intestine or stomach will be repaired. The incisions will be closed with stitches. A bandage will be placed over the site.
A small opening called a stoma may also be made. It goes from the belly wall to an opening that at the top of the bladder. This helps drain urine from the bladder.
How Long Will It Take?
4 to 8 hours
Will It Hurt?
Pain and swelling are common in the first few weeks. Medicine and home care help.
Average Hospital Stay
The usual stay is 6 to 10 days. If you have any problems, you will need to stay longer.
Post-procedure Care
At the Hospital
Right after the procedure, the staff may:
- Give pain medicine
- Give you fluids and nutrients through an IV until your intestines are working again
- Teach you how to use the catheter to drain urine from the bladder
During your stay, staff will take steps to lower your chance of infection, such as:
- Washing their hands
- Wearing gloves or masks
- Keeping your incisions covered
You can also lower your chance of infection by:
- Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
- Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
- Not letting others touch your incision
At Home
It will take a month or more to recover. You may see some blood in the urine during this time. Strenuous physical activity will also be limited.
Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
- Signs of infection, such as fever or chills
- Redness, swelling, excess bleeding, or discharge from the incision
- Problems urinating or urine that is cloudy or smells bad
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away.
RESOURCES:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
https//www.niddk.nih.gov
Urology Care Foundation
http://www.urologyhealth.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Health Canada
https://www.canada.ca
The Kidney Foundation of Canada
https://www.kidney.ca
REFERENCES:
Bladder augmentation. Boston Children’s Hospital website. Available at: http://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/treatments/bladder-augmentation. Accessed January 4, 2021.
Bladder augmentation (enlargement). Urology Care Foundation website. Available at: http://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/bladder-augmentation-(enlargement). Accessed January 4, 2021.
Bladder augmentation surgery FAQ. UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital website. Available at: https://www.ucsfbenioffchildrens.org/education/bladder_augmentation_surgery/index.html. Accessed January 4, 2021.
Jaggi, A and Fatoye, F. Real world treatment patterns in the neurogenic bladder population: a systematic literature review. Transl Androl Urol. 2017 Dec; 6(6): 1175–1183.
Neurogenic bladder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/neurogenic-bladder. Accessed January 4, 2021
Last reviewed September 2020 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Adrienne Carmack, MD Last Updated: 1/4/2021