Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in children

Abstract

In the last 40 years, the management of neuromuscular dysfunction of the lower urinary tract in children has undergone profound changes due to increased understanding and vast improvements in development of drug and surgical therapies. This chapter describes the current issues surrounding its prevalence, recent attempts at prenatal management, early postnatal lower urinary tract function, initial postnatal management, risk factors for upper urinary tract deterioration, reasons for prophylactic therapy that reduce compromises to renal function, assessment of sexual function as these individuals are surviving into adulthood and as such it plays an increasingly important role in their lives and finally, advances in the management of bowel dysfunction as that becomes paramount with affected patients surviving and wanting to become more engaged in society.