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One hundred and fourteen boys with posterior urethral valves were treated between 1966 and 1975. Four died during the first hospital admission, 6 died from renal failure during childhood, 1 died from other causes and 15 were lost to follow-up. Eighty-eight were reviewed 11 to 22 years after diagnosis and the renal outcome of 98 patients is therefore known. Approximately one-third of patients presented under 1 month of age, between 1 month and 1 year, and over 1 year respectively. Bilateral vesicoureteric reflux was observed in one-quarter of the boys, more frequently in those presenting in the first month of life. Half of the patients were treated by primary valve ablation and half underwent temporary upper tract diversion: the outcome was worse for the diverted group. One-third of the boys had a long-term bad outcome for renal function. This outcome was associated with early presentation, bilateral vesicoureteric reflux and day-time urinary incontinence after the age of 5 years. The association of bad outcome with incontinence points to continuing bladder dysfunction as a major determinant of long-term outcome for renal function.

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Ten years after the consensus meeting on disorders of sex development (DSD), genital surgery continues to raise questions and criticisms concerning its indications, its technical aspects, timing and evaluation. This standpoint details each distinct situation and its possible management in 5 main groups of DSD patients with atypical genitalia: the 46,XX DSD group (congenital adrenal hyperplasia); the heterogeneous 46,XY DSD group (gonadal dysgenesis, disorders of steroidogenesis, target tissues impairments …); gonosomic mosaicisms (45,X/46,XY patients); ovo-testicular DSD; and "non-hormonal/non chromosomal" DSD. Questions are summarized for each DSD group with the support of literature and the feed-back of several world experts. Given the complexity and heterogeneity of presentation there is no consensus regarding the indications, the timing, the procedure nor the evaluation of outcome of DSD surgery. There are, however, some issues on which most experts would agree: 1) The need for identifying centres of expertise with a multidisciplinary approach; 2) A conservative management of the gonads in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome at least until puberty although some studies expressed concerns about the heightened tumour risk in this group; 3) To avoid vaginal dilatation in children after surgical reconstruction; 4) To keep asymptomatic mullerian remnants during childhood; 5) To remove confirmed streak gonads when Y material is present; 6) It is likely that 46,XY cloacal exstrophy, aphallia and severe micropenis would do best raised as male although this is based on limited outcome data. There is general acknowledgement among experts that timing, the choice of the individual and irreversibility of surgical procedures are sources of concerns. There is, however, little evidence provided regarding the impact of non-treated DSD during childhood for the individual development, the parents, society and the risk of stigmatization. The low level of evidence should lead to design collaborative prospective studies involving all parties and using consensual protocols of evaluation.

The normal infant's bladder was stable and emptied almost completely. Voiding with incomplete co-ordination between detrusor contraction and urinary sphincter relaxation could be normal. Micturition never occurred during quiet sleep. There was cortical arousal in response to a full bladder even in new-born infants. This contradicts the traditional concept of a totally uninhibited bladder in infancy. There are potential implications for the management of children with nocturnal enuresis.

In a study of the factors surrounding the development of renal scars clinical data and serial radiographs were analysed in 74 infants and children (66 girls and eight boys) without duplex kidney or obstruction. The development of new scars was seen radiologically in 87 kidneys (74 previously normal and 13 previously scarred). New scarring was extensive in 16 kidneys. Thirty four children were aged 5 or over when scarring occurred.

Objective To compare the differences in the quality of Mitrofanoff channels created using appendix and re-tubularized small bowel (the Yang±Monti ileovesicostomy). Patients and methods The case-notes were reviewed retrospectively for all patients who underwent a Mitrofanoff procedure using either appendix or small bowel, over a 5-year period from June 1994 to July 1999. Results In all, 92 patients underwent 94 Mitrofanoff procedures; the appendix was used in 69 and small bowel in 25. The underlying diagnoses were exstrophy-epispadias complex (38), neuropathic bladder (21), anorectal malformations and cloacal anomalies (15), posterior urethral valves (nine) and miscellaneous (nine). The mean (range) age at operation was 9.2 (1.1±18.3) years. The mean (range) follow-up for the appendix group was 37 (6.7±65) months and for the Monti group 25 (6±66) months. Catheterization problems occurred in 18 (27%) patients from the appendix group; two needed an adjustment of technique, six dilatation and 10 revision. Stomal stenosis occurred in 10 (15%) patients, bladder level stenosis in four (6%) and conduit necrosis in two. Catheterization problems were reported in 15 (60%) patients from the Monti group; ®ve needed revision, three dilatation and seven are being managed conservatively. The incidences of stomal stenosis (four, 16%) and bladder level stenosis (two, 8%) were comparable with the appendix group. In addition, two patients had distal channel (sub-stomal) stenosis and two had mid-channel stenosis. The problem unique to the Yang±Monti channel was a pouch-like dilatation in seven patients (28%), all of whom presented with catheterization problems; ®ve are being managed conservatively and two have needed pouch resection. Stomal prolapse occurred in ®ve (7%) patients in the appendix group, but in none of the Monti group. Conclusions The appendix is the conduit of choice for a Mitrofanoff procedure. Re-tubularized small bowel conduits have a considerably higher incidence of catheterization problems. Anatomical factors may contribute to the unique incidence of pouch formation.