0022-534 7/79/1216-0792$02. 00/0 Vol. 121, June Printed in U.S.A.
THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Copyright © 1979 by The Williams & Wilkins Co.
INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION IN CHILDREN LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD EVAN J. KASS,* TIMOTHY MCHUGH
AND
ANANIAS C. DIOKNO
From the Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
ABSTRACT
Neurogenic bladder dysfunction often requires treatment early in life. ~nterm~ttent cathet_erization is an accepted means of treatment in older children and adults but its use m young c~1Idren and infants has been limited because of fear of urethral injury. The results of managmg 42 patients less than 6 years old by intermittent catheterization are presented. Excellent results were achieved even in small infants. In 1970 Lapides and associates introduced the concept of clean intermittent catheterization for the management of patients who could not empty the bladder satisfactorily. 1 Initially, it was believed that intermittent catheterization would not be possible in young children, particularly boys, because of fear of trauma to the urethra. However, often because of infection and/or the inability to empty the bladder something must be done to correct the situation regardless of the age of the patient. Previously, the alternatives were surgical urinary diversion, sphincterotomy or an indwelling urethral catheter. Since 1970 the majority of children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction at our hospital have been managed by intermittent catheterization. Herein we present data on 42 patients who were
THE JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Copyright © 1979 by The Williams & Wilkins Co.
INTERMITTENT CATHETERIZATION IN CHILDREN LESS THAN 6 YEARS OLD EVAN J. KASS,* TIMOTHY MCHUGH
AND
ANANIAS C. DIOKNO
From the Section of Urology, Department of Surgery, University Hospital, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
ABSTRACT
Neurogenic bladder dysfunction often requires treatment early in life. ~nterm~ttent cathet_erization is an accepted means of treatment in older children and adults but its use m young c~1Idren and infants has been limited because of fear of urethral injury. The results of managmg 42 patients less than 6 years old by intermittent catheterization are presented. Excellent results were achieved even in small infants. In 1970 Lapides and associates introduced the concept of clean intermittent catheterization for the management of patients who could not empty the bladder satisfactorily. 1 Initially, it was believed that intermittent catheterization would not be possible in young children, particularly boys, because of fear of trauma to the urethra. However, often because of infection and/or the inability to empty the bladder something must be done to correct the situation regardless of the age of the patient. Previously, the alternatives were surgical urinary diversion, sphincterotomy or an indwelling urethral catheter. Since 1970 the majority of children with neurogenic bladder dysfunction at our hospital have been managed by intermittent catheterization. Herein we present data on 42 patients who were
