Cloacal anomalies: role of vesicostomy.

The purpose of this report is to discuss the use of vesicostomy in the treatment of cloacal anomalies. In 4 years, the authors have performed primary reconstruction in four children who had cloacal anomalies. Three children had hydrocolpos, which in two cases failed to decompress with tube vaginostomy or clean intermittent catheterization. In both cases, cutaneous vesicostomy effectively prevented urinary sepsis, which allowed the children to thrive before definitive reconstruction was performed. Vesicostomy is technically simple to perform and is easily reversed without loss of bladder volume. Further, it lends itself well to definitive reconstruction of cloacal anomalies.