Effects of clean intermittent catheterization on bladder deformity in spins bifida patients

A retrospective study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the age of starting clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) and its effects on urinary tract deterioration. One hundred and twelve spina bifida patients on CIC at evaluation, who had been followed up for longer than 10 years, were divided into 4 groups according to the age of starting CIC: Group 1 started CIC before 5 years old, Group 2 between 6 and 10 years, Group 3 between 11 and 15 years, and Group 4 after 16 years. Incidences of bladder deformity increased according to follow-up years in all groups. Incidence of improvement of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) at 1 year after starting CIC was significantly higher in Group 1. It is concluded that some spina bifida patients are at risk of progressing bladder deformity which is refractory to CIC, and that the early introduction of CIC has a beneficial effect against VUR.