LAPAROSCOPIC RETROPUBIC AUTO-AUGMENTATION OF THE BLADDER

The small capacity or contracted bladder is a difficult management problem. The goal of bladder augmentation is to create a storage structure with an adequate capacity and low pressure. Bladder auto-augmentation creates a large bladder diverticulum by partially excising the detrusor muscle. We report our initial experience with an extraperitoneal approach to laparoscopic auto-augmentation in a patient with a small contracted bladder. This is a technically feasible operation but longer clinical followup is necessary to determine its durability in the management of the small, contracted bladder.