Use and Disuse of Catheterizable Channels as the Primary Method of Emptying the Neuropathic Bladder: A Single Institutional Cohort Study.

Purpose: We aimed to assess long-term use of continent catheterizable urinary channels (CCCs) and explore potential risk factors of disuse.

Materials and methods: People undergoing appendicovesicostomy and Monti procedures at our institution were retrospectively reviewed (1991-2023). The main outcome was CCC disuse (not intermittently catheterizing channels as the primary method of bladder emptying). Cox regression was used.

Results: Five hundred sixty-one people (46% male, 57% shunted, 72% spina bifida) met inclusion criteria (244 appendicovesicostomy, 317 Monti; 69% right lower quadrant [RLQ]). Channels were created at a median age of 8 years (median follow-up: 11 years, 78% self-catheterized). Overall, 76 people disused their channels. The most common reasons for disuse were nonmechanical (64%). After disuse, 46% underwent incontinent diversion. After correcting for differential follow-up, 89% of people still used their channels at 10 years and 81% at 20 years. When analyzing all disused channels in patients reaching adulthood on multivariable analysis, channels catheterized by others had 3.78 times the risk of disuse compared with self-catheterized channels (P < .001); RLQ channels were 1.06 times more likely to be disused than umbilical channels (P = .02). For channels disused for nonmechanical reasons, catheterization by others, not attending transition clinic, and RLQ stoma were independently associated with disuse (P ≤ .04). No variables were associated with disuse for mechanical reasons (P ≥ .22).

Conclusions: Most people with CCCs use them on long-term follow-up. One percent stopped using them annually. People who never self-catheterized, never attended transition clinic, or never had RLQ stomas were at higher risk of channel disuse, particularly because of nonmechanical reasons.