What happens if you are born without a bladder?

Surgeons will close the penis and bladder (top right) and then close the abdomen and skin (bottom right). Bladder exstrophy (EK-stroh-fee) is a rare birth defect in which the bladder develops outside the fetus. The exposed bladder can’t store urine or function normally, resulting in urine leakage (incontinence).

What is exstrophy?

What is Bladder Exstrophy? An abnormality of formation of the bladder and the bony pelvis. The bladder does not form into its normal round shape but instead is flattened and exposed on the abdominal wall. The pelvic bones are also widely separated.

Is bladder exstrophy a rare disease?

Bladder exstrophy is a rare developmental abnormality that is present at birth (congenital) in which the bladder and related structures are turned inside out.

What are the signs and symptoms of epispadias?

Signs include:

• Abnormal opening from the bladder neck to the area above the normal urethra opening.
• Backward flow of urine into the kidney (reflux nephropathy, hydronephrosis)
• Urinary incontinence.
• Urinary tract infections.
• Widened pubic bone.

Can bladder exstrophy be cured?

Bladder exstrophy can be repaired with reconstructive surgery. If your child is treated at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, their surgery will be done using an approach called the complete primary repair of exstrophy (CPRE).

How do you take care of bladder exstrophy?

Place clean plastic wrap over the bladder plate (see the image below). Avoid moistened or impregnated gauze, which is irritating to the delicate bladder mucosa. Mist tents may be used to protect exposed tissue. Use of plastic wrap to protect the delicate bladder mucosa in a newborn with bladder exstrophy.

How is bladder exstrophy diagnosed?

Bladder exstrophy is found incidentally during a routine pregnancy ultrasound. It can be more definitively diagnosed before birth with ultrasound or MRI. Signs the doctor will look for in the images include: Bladder that doesn’t fill or empty correctly.