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How successful is the transition to adult urology care in spina bifida?

Reviewed by Henrik Steinbrecher

 

 

 

These authors from Indianapolis, USA, aimed to assess rates and predictors of successful transition into adult care of spina bifida patients. They did this by a retrospective review of 77 patients discharged from a multidisciplinary paediatric clinic at a mean age of 19.1 years after giving them instructions to arrange an appointment within 12 months in the adult service. Success was defined as documented follow-up in an adult clinic or with a previous paediatric or adult urologist at 24 months post discharge (patients having been given a choice of where to go for follow-up). Overall, 31 (40.3%) transitioned successfully (mean follow-up 4.7 years); of which 35.4% transitioned to their original urologist, and 58.1% to a new adult urologist (6.55% transitioned to an adult academic urologist). Seven patients presented late (24-36 months) to a new adult urologist. Of the late presenters, one presented with a new complaint. There was no difference in demographics between successful and unsuccessful transition patients. There was a trend towards patients who had attended an outpatient clinic within three years of transition, transitioning successfully. In addition a significant proportion of patients with spina bifida were lost to follow-up. The authors conclude that there is still a lot of work to be done to establish successful and adequate life-long follow-up and transition into adult care for these complex patients. 

How successful is the transition to adult urology care in spina bifida? A single centre 7 year experience.
Szymanski K, Cain M, Hardacker T, et al.
JOURNAL OF PEDIATRIC UROLOGY
2017;13(1):40.e1-40.e6.
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