Surat: For the first time in 18 years, Pratik, a civil engineering student, experienced an undisturbed sleep on Monday as he did not require a diaper.
Pratik (name changed) had to frequent the washroom several times as he was born with meningomyelocele (spina bifida), a defect that occurs when the spine and the spinal cord do not form properly. “We performed a pioneering bladder surgery to treat the neurogenic bladder. The surgery has given him a diaper-free life after 18 years. In fact, on the first night of the surgery, he slept for nine hours at stretch without having to wake up for urination,” said Surat-based urologist Dr Subhodh Kamble. "One can imagine the psychological and emotional state of the young boy having to wear a diaper each day of life since the birth. He had undergo corrective surgeries when he was three months old and later when he turned eight. But he had developed neurogenic bladder, a condition in people who lack control over bladder due to a brain, spinal cord or nerve problem” said Kamble.
Pratik had to urinate 25 times during day time and 10 times during night. “He was suffering with severe urgency of urination with urge incontinence (urine leakage),” Kamble said. A baby born with spina bifida needs to have the exposed part of the spinal cord repaired to prevent further injury and infection. Nearly 60 % young adults with spina bifida and surgery that is carried out for its correction suffer from urine leak and severe urine problems – a condition known as neurogenic bladder. “Our muscles and nerves have to work together for the bladder to hold urine until we are ready to empty it. In the neurogenic bladder, nerves carrying messages to and from the bladder, the spinal cord and brain do not work the way they should. In some cases, the bladder may become overactive and leak before reaching the toilet,” the urologist said. Since the surgery was carried out through a telescope, it has not resulted in any cuts on the body.