Uterine Prolapse Associated with Bladder Exstrophy: Surgical Management and Subsequent Pregnancy

Abstract

Congenital bladder exstrophy affects 1 in 125,000 to 250,000 females. Consisting of absence of the anterior abdominal wall with exposure of the ureteral orifices, failure of pubic symphysis fusion, and deficient anterior pelvic diaphragm musculature, bladder exstrophy is frequently associated with genital prolapse. Pregnancy may be complicated by recurrent urinary tract infections, preterm labor, mild procidentia, and malpresentation. Due to the rarity of the condition, there is a corresponding scarcity of obstetric literature regarding management during pregnancy. We report the case of a young woman with surgically repaired bladder exstrophy who developed genital prolapse. The uterus was suspended using a sacral colpopexy utilizing a Gore-Tex graft. Subsequently, the patient became pregnant and delivered a healthy male infant at 35 weeks' gestation via cesarean section (without recurrence of the genital prolapse postpartum). Sacral colpopexy to correct genital prolapse associated with bladder exstrophy may preserve fertility in young patients.

Key Words:

• congenital bladder exstrophy
• uterine prolapse
• pregnancy