ESPU-Nurses Meeting on Thursday 18, June 2026, 09:30 - 10:00
09:20 - 09:30
SN04-1 (NP)
Betsy HOPSON 1, Carmen TONG 1, Ethan WAN 2 and Stacy TANAKA 1
1) University of Alabama at Birmingham, Urology, Birmingham, USA - 2) University of Alabama at Birmingham, Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, USA
PURPOSE
Individuals with spina bifida (SB) frequently require lifelong bladder management, most often through clean intermittent catheterization (CIC). Although prior research shows that people with disabilities face an elevated risk of sexual abuse, the relationship between bladder management methods and this risk remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to examine associations between sexual abuse, CIC use, and sex among adults with SB to inform targeted screening and prevention strategies in clinical care.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
We analyzed responses from a validated sexual and reproductive health survey of adults with SB distributed through the national Spina Bifida Association (United States). Sexual abuse was defined as any non-consensual or unwanted sexual experience; "none of these things have ever happened to me" was coded as no abuse. Childhood sexual abuse was defined as occurring before age 18. Sex was defined by sex assigned at birth, and CIC use included any urethral or channel-based catheterization. Associations between CIC use, sex, and sexual abuse were assessed using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests when expected cell counts were <5. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) quantified associations, and frequencies and percentages were calculated using non-missing responses as denominators.
RESULTS
Among 137 respondents (102 females, 46 males; mean age = 40.8 ± 13.2 years), 46.0% reported a history of sexual abuse, and 57.4% of those experienced abuse before age 18. Females reported higher lifetime abuse than males (56.8% vs. 19.5%, p < 0.01) and more childhood abuse (59.2% vs. 40.0%, p = 0.22).
Among males, lifetime abuse did not differ by CIC use (16.1% CIC vs. 30.0% non-CIC, p = 0.39). Among females, prevalence was higher for CIC users (62.0% vs. 41.7%, p = 0.13). Females had over fivefold higher odds of lifetime abuse than males (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.27-13.00), and female CIC users had more than double the odds compared with non-CIC females (OR 2.28, 95% CI 0.89-5.85).
CONCLUSIONS
Sexual abuse is highly prevalent among individuals with SB, with over half experiencing abuse before age 18. Females were over five times more likely to be abused than males. Although CIC use was not associated with abuse among males, it trended toward significance among females, who had more than double the odds of lifetime abuse. These findings highlight the need for targeted screening and prevention, particularly for females using CIC.
09:30 - 09:40
SN04-2 (NP)
Magdalena BOIJE 1, Ulrika SVENNINGHED 2, Michaela DELLERMARK-BLOM 2, Elisabet ÖRTQVIST 1, Gundela HOLMDAHL 1, Sofia SJÖSTRÖM 2 and Elin ÖST 3
1) Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Pediatric Urology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm,, Solna, SWEDEN - 2) Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Pediatrics, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden, Gothenburg, SWEDEN - 3) Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, Solna, SWEDEN
PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to explore which coping-strategies children and adolescents with Bladder-Exstrophy-Epispadia Complex (BEEC), and their parents, use in their everyday life.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
A total of 15 children or adolescents with BEEC, and 23 parents participated in semi-structured focus-group interviews. They were divided into groups according to age (2- 7 years, 8 – 12 years and 13 – 18 years) and sex (boys and girls). The children and adolescents and their parents participated in separate groups. In age group 2 – 7 years, only the parents were invited to participate. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. The transcribed material were analyzed through a qualitative content analyzing process according to Elo & Kyngäs (J Adv Nurs. 2008; 62(1):107-15).
RESULTS
A total of 443 statements were found concerning coping-strategies and the analysis resulted in six categories and ten sub-categories.
The analysis resulted in six categories and eight sub-categories described by the children and adolescents. Those were planning, seek support, acceptance, avoidance, complaining, feeling of helplessness, openness and wishful thinking. The children and adolescents spend a lot of their day planning around toilet-situations.
The parents described their child´s coping-strategies in six categories and seven sub-categories. They described: planning, seek support, avoidance, acceptance, feeling of helplessness, change how you think and complaining. The parents describe how they witness their child struggle with toilet-situations and how they try to help their child with the planning. They also try to empower their child to live a normal life.
The parents described their own coping-strategies in six categories and nine sub-categories. Those were: planning, seek support, avoidance, acceptance, feeling of helplessness, change how you think, wishful thinking, complaining and psychological distress/grief/anxiety. The parents often seek support from other parents in the same situation. Many parents felt anxiety and sadness about their child’s difficulties. They express the importance of the support from the urologist and urotherapist.
CONCLUSIONS
Living with BEEC, or to have a child or adolescent with BEEC, involves several different coping-strategies. Planning is important for both children and parents. Parents also seek support from care facilities and other parents.
09:40 - 09:50
SN04-3 (NP)
Thomas LOUBERSAC 1, Thomas BLANC 2, Bernard BOILOT 3, Francois MARCELLI 4, Nicolas MOREL-JOURNEL 5 and François-Xavier MADEC 3
1) CHU Nantes, Paediatric Urology, Nantes, FRANCE - 2) Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris,, Paris, FRANCE - 3) Hopital Foch, Urology, Suresnes, FRANCE - 4) CHU Lille, Lille, FRANCE - 5) CHU Lyon, Urology, Lyon, FRANCE
PURPOSE
Residual ventral curvature is common in adults who have undergone hypospadias surgery and can cause discomfort during intercourse. Adults with proximal hypospadias may also have a short penis. Surgically correcting penile curvature may require a three-stage procedure. The initial stage involves sectioning the urethral plate, followed by ventral corporotomy and xenograft placement. Here, we present our results in this population.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
From 2023 to April 2025, nine adults with a history of hypospadias and ventral curvature, treated by ventral corporotomy and xenograft, were included.
Pre-operative and post-operative assessments included an erectile function evaluation using the Erectile Hardness Score (EHS).
During surgery, the urethral plate was sectioned, and a transverse anterior double-Y corporotomy was performed at the point of maximum curvature. The xenograft was placed in a watertight manner.
Success was defined as an absence of discomfort during intercourse and good erectile function.
RESULTS
All of the patients had proximal hypospadias.
Four had no prior hypospadias surgeries, and three had undergone two or more surgeries.
The median age at surgery was 29 years old (IQR: 24-33). The median follow-up time was 25 months (IQR: 17-31).
The median preoperative length of the penis in an erect state was 7 cm (IQR: 7-8).
Ventral curvature was below 90 degrees in four patients and above 90 degrees in five patients.
At the last follow-up, all patients had ventral curvature below 30 degrees, except for one patient with residual curvature of 45 degrees (preoperative curvature of 90 degrees).
Preoperative and postoperative erectile function was the same, with a median EHS score of 4/4 (IQR: 4–4).
Nine patients experienced sexual discomfort before surgery, and three (33%) experienced it after surgery.
The complication rate of complications greater than Clavien grade 2 was 33%, and cutaneous desunion was managed with a scrotal flap.
The success rate was determined to be 66%.
Four patients underwent a first stage of urethroplasty with a buccal mucosal graft.
CONCLUSIONS
Correcting a significant ventral curvature through a ventral corporotomy and graft appears to be feasible in adults with a history of hypospadias, even those who have undergone previous surgery, with good short-term results.