Follow up of patients with Eagle-Barett (Prune Belly) syndrome treated with single-stage abdominoplasty and total genitourinary tract reconstruction

Introduction The Prune Belly Syndrome (PBS) is the deficiency or congenital hypoplasia of the abdominal muscles accompanied with disorders of the urinary tract. The surgical treatment for the uropathy of the PBS seeks to correct the anatomical defects that induce damage to the urinary tract, including the improvement of the bladder emptying. The correction of the abdominal wall defect must be considered as an important part of the treatment. Objective To describe of the most relevant clinic characteristics and outcomes of a group of eight patients with PBS managed with abdominoplasty and reconstructive urologic surgery. Methods Retrospective review of the medical charts of patients with PBS at Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Hospital Militar Central of Bogotá, Clinica Infantil Colsubsidio and Fundación Oftalmológica Ardila Lulle of Bucaramanga, (Colombia) that were managed with reconstructive surgery of the urinary tract and Monfort technique abdominoplasty (between 2006 and 2016) by one of the authors (JPN). The evaluated variables included: phenotypic appearance, renal function, bowel movements, and urinary tract infection (UTI) episodes. These variables as well as the abdominal wall aspect, were evaluated postoperatively. Results There were 11 patients identified with PBS between 2006 and 2016. Eight (8) of them underwent reconstructive urologic surgery, orchidopexy and Monfort technique abdominoplasty. After the procedures, none of the patients presented deterioration of the renal function, and they reported a better quality of the stools according to the Bristol scale; there were also less episodes of UTI. The phenotypic aspect of the abdominal wall was qualified as satisfactory in all cases. Conclusions Reconstructive urologic surgery and abdominoplasty in patients with PBS is an excellent choice of management that reduces the number of UTIs, improves bowel movements according to the Bristol scale, and preserves the renal function. This management approach also improves the phenotypic aspect of the abdominal wall. All of this leads to higher survival rate and better quality of life.