Congenital genitourinary anomalies: an 8-year review in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

Summary Congenital genitourinary anomalies arc common indications for surgery in children. Identification of factors that may result in poor surgical outcome could be critical to policy formulation in developing countries. The records of children managed with congenital genitourinary anomalies at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital between January 1999 and December 2006 were retrospectively studied. They were aged between 10 days and 14 years (mean 4.3 ± 6.7 years) with a male/female ratio 18.8:1, and accounted for 801 (57.1%) of all children managed with congenital anomalies. Lower tract lesions 796 (99.4%) due mainly to hernia/hydrocele 1483 (60.3%)] accounted for the majority of eases, but 105 (13.1%) lesions comprising of 71 hydrocele and 34 undescended testes resolved spontaneously during follow-up without surgical intervention. Of the 696 (86.9%) children operated, delay in presentation which allowed irreversible complications to develop affected outcomes. Therefore, of 26 children with posterior urethral valves. 9 deaths due to chronic renal failure were recorded, and this accounted for all the mortality in this study. Chronic inflammation in entropy of the bladder resulted in bladder plate fibrosis which made them inelastic and difficult to close with resultant failed repair and persistent urinary incontinence. Children with undescended testis that presented before age 5 years had a better outcomes than those who presented later as atretic testes requiring orchiectomy were recorded after age 5 years. Overall, 600 (86.21%) children had successful surgeries, while 87 (12.5%) were with residual functional impairments.