What nursing interventions should be implemented when an infant has exstrophy of the bladder

Spina bifida program UCSF Pediatric Urology

UCSF has a dedicated spina bifida program for pediatric patients.  We offer comprehensive medical support and treatment to infants, children and adolescents with spina bifida and other spinal cord birth defects.  Our team includes a designated medical director (Mitul Kapadia, Md), a nursing coordinator (Joyce Harvey, NP), urology, neurosurgery, physiatry, orthopedics, nutrition, neuropsychology, and social work. Our urology team is led by Dr. Hillary Copp.  Our program not only delivers multispecialty postnatal clinical care, but also we offer genetic and prenatal counseling and fetal intervention. We also provide essential services for psychosocial support for patients and families. Our team of multispecialty experts gather to see each patient at a single appointment to offer comprehensive care that minimizes disabilities and promotes an active, engaged, and productive life.

What is Spina Bifida?

Spina Bifida is a birth defect that affects the development of the baby’s spinal cord, spine, and developing brain. The most common and most severe form of spina bifida is called Myelomeningocele. The abnormality can take place anywhere along the spine, and it causes a portion of the spinal cord and adjacent structures to develop outside, instead of inside, the baby’s body.

How is it repaired?

Surgery to repair and close the defect is usually performed within 24-72 hours of the baby’s birth.

How does Spina Bifida affect my baby’s bladder?

Children born with Spina Bifida are almost always found to have a neurogenic bladder. This is because the nerves in the spinal cord that control the bladder did not form properly. This means that the bladder will have trouble storing urine in the bladder, emptying the bladder, or both. Almost all children with Spina Bifida require lifelong clean intermittent catheterization (see Clean Intermittent Catheterization section) to protect their kidneys, prevent urinary tract infection (see Urinary Tract Infection section) and allow them to wear underwear. Many children with Spina Bifida also require a medicine for their bladder called an anticholinergicthat will help relax their bladder so that it may store more urine and also protect the kidneys.

How does Spina Bifida affect my baby’s bowels?

The majority of children born with Spina Bifida are at risk for constipation because the nerves that regulate the bowel often do not form properly. This typically does not become an issue until your child begins solid foods. Many babies and children with Spina Bifida require the help of a laxative to keep them stooling regularly. Prevention of constipation is essential for eventually attaining stool continence.

Will my child require surgery for their bladder or bowels?

Many children with Spina Bifida have a very poorly functioning bladder, or a bladder that does not grow with them. When clean intermittent catheterization and bladder medicine is not enough, some of these children go on to require a bladder augmentation. This is an operation that uses a piece of the small intestine to make the bladder bigger (see Bladder Augmentation section).

Children with Spina Bifida also sometimes may have a difficult time becoming continent of stool. While many are able to achieve this with a strict bowel program utilizing medication and potty sits, some families elect to undergo surgery for an Ace Malone which is a way to become continent of stool after other methods have failed (see Ace Malone Surgery section).

What types of tests will my child need for their kidneys and bladder?

After your child is born and discharged from the hospital, they will undergo their first urodynamic evaluation. This test will be performed periodically to evaluate how your child’s bladder is functioning and to determine if we are managing the bladder appropriately. Please refer to the section on Urodynamic Evaluation for more information.

Children born with Spina Bifida also undergo regular ultrasounds of their kidneys and bladder to help make sure the bladder is being treated sufficiently and the kidneys appear healthy.

What is UCSF’s Spina Bifida Program?

UCSF’s Spina Bifida program is one of only a few programs in Northern California to offer a comprehensive medical and social support for the treatment of infants, children and adolescents with spina bifida and other spinal birth defects involving exposed vertebrae. UCSF's multidisciplinary clinic provides care from medical professionals including those in neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation, pediatric development and behavior, nutrition, nursing and social work.  From a urologic standpoint, our goals for your child include: 1) protect their kidneys, 2) attain urine and stool continence, and 3) help your child to become as independent as they can with their urologic routine.

For more information about Spina Bifida please visit the website for the Spina Bifida Association.

What nursing interventions should be implemented when an infant has exstrophy of the bladder


Hypospadias and epispadias are congenital anomalies of the penis that result in the incomplete development of the anterior urethra. In hypospadias, the urethral opening is located along the underside of the penis, near the tip. In epispadias, the urethral opening is on the upper surface (dorsum) of the penis.

The incidence of this defect in the United States is approximately 3.2 in 1,000 live male births or about 1 in every 300 male children. The cause of this defect is unknown but is associated with genetics, low birth weights, and by race/ethnic background (more common in whites, Italians, and Jews). Chordee, an abnormal curvature of the penis, is usually linked with hypospadias. Other associated anomalies include undescended testes, an inguinal hernia, and Wilms tumor.

The goal of treatment of this anomaly is to reconstruct a straight penis with a meatus close to the normal anatomic location. Usually, the surgical repair is recommended to be done in the early year of life to prevent psychological trauma. Currently, the recommended age for urethroplasty (hypospadias/epispadias repair) is between 3 to 12 months of age and for orthoplasty (chordee repair) is during the first year of the child.

Nursing Care Plans

Major nursing care plan objectives for the child with hypospadias or epispadias include improving the child’s physical appearance, ensuring a positive body image, providing relief of pain and discomfort, decreasing parental anxiety, and absence of complications (bleeding, infection, catheter obstruction and sexual dysfunction).

Here are four (4) nursing care plans (NCP) and nursing diagnosis (NDx) for hypospadias and epispadias:

  1. Acute Pain
  2. Impaired Urinary Elimination
  3. Anxiety
  4. Risk for Infection

Nursing Diagnosis

May be related to

Possibly evidenced by

  • Verbalization of pain
  • Crying
  • Irritability, restlessness
  • Distractive behavior
  • Changes in vital signs

Desired Outcomes

  • Child will experience decreased pain as evidenced by infrequent crying episodes and exhibit normal sleeping pattern.
Nursing InterventionsRationale
Assess location, characteristics, onset, duration, frequency, location, and severity of pain; Observe for verbal and nonverbal cues.Provides data about the description of pain which can be used as a guideline for analgesic therapy.
Maintain a position of comfort; Properly set the catheter to avoid tension and kinking.Promotes comfort and avoids pain due to pulling on or manipulating catheter.
Encourage use of relaxation techniques.Promotes rest and refocus attention thus decreases discomfort.
Apply ice compress as indicated.Relieves pain and decreases edema.
Administer analgesic (e.g., Tylenol) as ordered.Lessens pain and promotes rest which reduces stimuli and pain.
Educate parents that medications will prevent pain and restlessness and allow for healing.Provides information about the need for pain medications for child’s comfort.

Recommended nursing diagnosis and nursing care plan books and resources.

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  • Nursing Care Plans: Nursing Diagnosis and Intervention (10th Edition)
    An awesome book to help you create and customize effective nursing care plans. We highly recommend this book for its completeness and ease of use.
  • Nurse’s Pocket Guide: Diagnoses, Prioritized Interventions and Rationales
    A quick-reference tool to easily select the appropriate nursing diagnosis to plan your patient’s care effectively.
  • NANDA International Nursing Diagnoses: Definitions & Classification, 2021-2023 (12th Edition)
    The official and definitive guide to nursing diagnoses as reviewed and approved by the NANDA-I. This book focuses on the nursing diagnostic labels, their defining characteristics, and risk factors – this does not include nursing interventions and rationales.
  • Nursing Diagnosis Handbook, 12th Edition Revised Reprint with 2021-2023 NANDA-I® Updates
    Another great nursing care plan resource that is updated to include the recent NANDA-I updates.
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5(TM))
    Useful for creating nursing care plans related to mental health and psychiatric nursing.
  • Ulrich & Canale’s Nursing Care Planning Guides, 8th Edition
    Claims to have the most in-depth care plans of any nursing care planning book. Includes 31 detailed nursing diagnosis care plans and 63 disease/disorder care plans.
  • Maternal Newborn Nursing Care Plans (3rd Edition)
    If you’re looking for specific care plans related to maternal and newborn nursing care, this book is for you.
  • Nursing Diagnosis Manual: Planning, Individualizing, and Documenting Client Care (7th Edition)
    An easy-to-use nursing care plan book that is updated with the latest diagnosis from NANDA-I 2021-2023.
  • All-in-One Nursing Care Planning Resource: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Maternity, and Psychiatric-Mental Health (5th Edition)
    Definitely an all-in-one resources for nursing care planning. It has over 100 care plans for different nursing topics.

See also

Other recommended site resources for this nursing care plan:

Other nursing care plans for pediatric conditions and diseases: