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Navigation of the Pelvic Floor in Bladder Exstrophy Using Pre-operative MRI

Navigation of the Pelvic Floor in Bladder Exstrophy Using Pre-operative MRI

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01878500
Enrollment
48
Registered
2013-06-17
Start date
2012-09-30
Completion date
2020-12-31
Last updated
2021-12-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bladder Exstrophy

Keywords

Bladder exstrophy epispadias complex, Pelvic floor musculature, Intraoperative stereotactic imaging

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of intraoperative stereotactic imaging of the pelvic floor musculature during closure of bladder exstrophy.

Detailed description

Much of the long-term success of classic bladder exstrophy closures depends on the initial closure. Several studies have demonstrated that a key to successful initial closure involves deep dissection of the pelvic floor so that the bladder can be placed in the most posterior and inferior position possible. Oftentimes, the need for repeat closure of the abdomen is required if the initial surgeon failed to properly dissect deep enough into the child's pelvic floor. Many surgeons are unfamiliar with the complex anatomy and are unable to verify that they have properly reached the true pelvic floor during this initial surgery. This often leads to failed closures, which result in poor continence rates later in life. The investigators are attempting to determine the safety and efficacy of the use the Brainlab, Inc. VisionVector® Cranial Image Guided Surgery System during closure of bladder exstrophy. The value of this research is two-fold. Firstly, the project will help us to verify if the investigators are indeed dissecting down to the proper plane required for successful initial closure of bladder exstrophy. Secondly, this project will help others with relatively less experience with bladder exstrophy to properly identify where they are anatomically during closure of exstrophy, thus yielding higher success rates and better patient care at other centers.

Interventions

DEVICEIntraoperative stereotactic imaging with VectorVision

Surgeon will use intraoperative stereotactic imaging with VectorVision® Cranial Guided Image System by Brainlab Inc. to assist in bladder exstrophy closure. Prior to the operation a team consisting of pediatric urologist, pediatric radiologists, and a VectorVision rep will use pre-operative MRI to map out specific bony and muscular structures of the pelvic floor. Doing so will allow the pediatric urologist to use these markers intraoperatively to help guide his closure and also allow for future surgeons who use this technology to understand the correct planes to develop for the same surgery.

Sponsors

Johns Hopkins University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
No minimum to 7 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Age 0-7 years 2. Diagnosis of classic bladder exstrophy 3. Scheduled to undergo bladder exstrophy closure by the principal investigator at Johns Hopkins Hospital's Broadway campus. 4. All eligible participants will be children whose parents or legally authorized representatives have already agreed and are being scheduled for osteotomy and bladder exstrophy closure as determined by their pediatric urologist. 5. Parent or legally authorized representative who is, in the opinion of the investigator, reliable and willing to make themselves and patient available for the duration of the study. 6. Parent or legally authorized representative is able to complete and sign the informed consent document. 7. Patient judged by the investigator to have bladders of sufficient size and elasticity to be suitable for immediate closure as evidenced by the PI's assessment of the patient's bladder template \[16\]. 8. Patient with cardiopulmonary function sufficient to tolerate general anesthesia as evidenced by the pediatrician's and anesthesiologists assessment of the patient's overall cardio-pulmonary status. 9. Patients requiring ferromagnetic metal objects such as a metal pace maker during the OR procedure.

Exclusion criteria

1. Lack or withdrawal of consent for primary operative procedure. 2. Parent or legally authorized representative who is, in the opinion of the investigator, not reliable or unwilling to make themselves and patient available for the duration of the study. 3. Parent or legally authorized representative who is unable to understand, complete and/or sign the informed consent document. Non-English speaking parents will automatically be excluded if they are unable to read and understand the consent form. 4. Patient who will not undergo osteotomy prior to closure for any reason

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Success or Failure of Exstrophy Closure2 yearsA failed bladder closure was defined as bladder prolapse, dehiscence, outlet obstruction, persistent vesicourethral fistula, or a combination of these, or a complication that required repeat closure.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Operative TimeIntraoperativelyTime (measured in minutes) of operation.
Length of Hospital StayUp to 2 monthsLength of hospital stay (in days) for each participant.
Urinary Continence2 yearsContinence rates as determined by total dry time during the day, number of incontinent episodes, and need for dry pads.
Subjective Improved Identification of the Pelvic Floor Anatomy During Bladder Exstrophy Closure as Reported by the SurgeonIntraoperativelySurgeon's were surveyed post-operatively on whether the intervention improved identification of pelvic floor anatomy. Measure: Binary, 'Yes' and 'No'
Total Number of Post-operative Complications2 yearsPost-operative complications were graded on the Clavien-Dindo Classification System. The Clavien-Dindo System is a standardized classification for reporting and registering complications. It grades the severity of a complication based on the therapy required to treat the complication. It is a tiered system with subdivided categories as follows: Grade I and II are considered minor, Grade III is considered moderate and Grades IV and V are severe complications.
Peri-operative Complications as Assessed by the Total Number of TransfusionsIntraoperativelyPeri-operative complications were those encountered immediately before, during, or immediately following the case, primarily regarding need for blood transfusions. Though these are not complications (and deemed necessary/inherent to the operation), they are tracked closely as an outcome measure.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Pre-assignment details

All patients with bladder exstrophy were recruited. Those who were undergoing exstrophy closure with pelvic osteotomy were included. Those who did not have planned pelvic osteotomy prior to closure were excluded (1).

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Intraoperative Stereotactic Imaging
Surgeon will use intraoperative stereotactic imaging with VectorVision® Cranial Guided Image System by Brainlab Inc. to assist in bladder exstrophy closure. Intraoperative stereotactic imaging with VectorVision: Surgeon will use intraoperative stereotactic imaging with VectorVision® Cranial Guided Image System by Brainlab Inc. to assist in bladder exstrophy closure. Prior to the operation a team consisting of pediatric urologist, pediatric radiologists, and a VectorVision rep will use pre-operative MRI to map out specific bony and muscular structures of the pelvic floor. Doing so will allow the pediatric urologist to use these markers intraoperatively to help guide his closure and also allow for future surgeons who use this technology to understand the correct planes to develop for the same surgery.
47
Total47

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicIntraoperative Stereotactic Imaging
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
47 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
0 Participants
Age, Continuous28.6 weeks
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected— Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
47 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
20 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
27 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 44
other
Total, other adverse events
10 / 44
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 44

Outcome results

Primary

Success or Failure of Exstrophy Closure

A failed bladder closure was defined as bladder prolapse, dehiscence, outlet obstruction, persistent vesicourethral fistula, or a combination of these, or a complication that required repeat closure.

Time frame: 2 years

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingSuccess or Failure of Exstrophy ClosureSuccessful44 exstrophy closures
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingSuccess or Failure of Exstrophy ClosureFailed0 exstrophy closures
Secondary

Length of Hospital Stay

Length of hospital stay (in days) for each participant.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingLength of Hospital Stay50 days
Secondary

Operative Time

Time (measured in minutes) of operation.

Time frame: Intraoperatively

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingOperative Time619 minutes
Secondary

Peri-operative Complications as Assessed by the Total Number of Transfusions

Peri-operative complications were those encountered immediately before, during, or immediately following the case, primarily regarding need for blood transfusions. Though these are not complications (and deemed necessary/inherent to the operation), they are tracked closely as an outcome measure.

Time frame: Intraoperatively

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingPeri-operative Complications as Assessed by the Total Number of Transfusions26 transfusions
Secondary

Subjective Improved Identification of the Pelvic Floor Anatomy During Bladder Exstrophy Closure as Reported by the Surgeon

Surgeon's were surveyed post-operatively on whether the intervention improved identification of pelvic floor anatomy. Measure: Binary, 'Yes' and 'No'

Time frame: Intraoperatively

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingSubjective Improved Identification of the Pelvic Floor Anatomy During Bladder Exstrophy Closure as Reported by the SurgeonYes44 Participants
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingSubjective Improved Identification of the Pelvic Floor Anatomy During Bladder Exstrophy Closure as Reported by the SurgeonNo0 Participants
Secondary

Total Number of Post-operative Complications

Post-operative complications were graded on the Clavien-Dindo Classification System. The Clavien-Dindo System is a standardized classification for reporting and registering complications. It grades the severity of a complication based on the therapy required to treat the complication. It is a tiered system with subdivided categories as follows: Grade I and II are considered minor, Grade III is considered moderate and Grades IV and V are severe complications.

Time frame: 2 years

Population: 3 patients were simple cystectomies and thus did not represent bladder closures and were subsequently excluded from final analysis.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingTotal Number of Post-operative ComplicationsOverall complications10 Post-operative complications
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingTotal Number of Post-operative ComplicationsGrade I3 Post-operative complications
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingTotal Number of Post-operative ComplicationsGrade II3 Post-operative complications
Intraoperative Stereotactic ImagingTotal Number of Post-operative ComplicationsGrade IIIb4 Post-operative complications
Secondary

Urinary Continence

Continence rates as determined by total dry time during the day, number of incontinent episodes, and need for dry pads.

Time frame: 2 years

Population: Data was not collected.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026