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What Is Mitrofanoff Appendicovesicostomy?

Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy is surgery that uses the appendix to create a channel from the bladder to an opening on the abdomen. A person passes a catheter through this opening to empty the bladder. The channel is designed to resist urine leakage between catheterizations.

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What Is Mitrofanoff Appendicovesicostomy?

Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy is surgery that uses the appendix to create a channel from the bladder to an opening on the abdomen. A person passes a catheter through this opening to empty the bladder. The channel is designed to resist urine leakage between catheterizations.

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When Is a Mitrofanoff Procedure Considered?

The procedure may help someone who needs intermittent catheterization but cannot use the urethra easily or reliably. Reasons can include certain birth conditions, spinal cord problems, or other causes of impaired bladder emptying. The care team evaluates bladder capacity, pressure, and the person's ability to manage catheterization.

How Is the Channel Created?

The surgeon connects one end of the appendix to the bladder and the other to a small opening called a stoma on the abdomen. The connection at the bladder is constructed to limit leakage as the bladder fills. Temporary tubes drain urine and protect the new channel during healing.

What Happens During Recovery?

Catheters remain in place while the bladder and channel heal. The care team then teaches the patient or caregiver how to pass a catheter through the stoma on a regular schedule. Ongoing care includes monitoring drainage and following instructions for cleaning the channel.

What Are the Risks and Long-Term Care Needs?

The stoma or channel can narrow, making catheter insertion difficult. Urine leakage, infection, and mucus buildup may also occur. Some patients need another procedure to correct a channel or stoma problem.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mitrofanoff Appendicovesicostomy

Does a Mitrofanoff require a permanent drainage bag?

No. After healing, urine is typically drained by inserting a catheter through the stoma at regular intervals. The catheter is removed after the bladder empties.

Can the procedure be done without an appendix?

A surgeon can create a different catheterizable channel from a segment of intestine if the appendix is unavailable. That alternative is not an appendicovesicostomy.

Will urine come out of the stoma continuously?

The channel is designed to remain continent between catheterizations. Leakage can occur if the channel or its valve does not function as intended.

Is catheterization still needed after surgery?

Yes. The operation creates another route for catheterization rather than making the bladder empty on its own. The patient or caregiver must follow the prescribed drainage schedule.

References

Appendicovesicostomy: the mitrofanoff procedure-a 15-year perspective. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10799230/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Bladder augmentation and Mitrofanoff. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust. https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/procedures-and-treatments/bladder-augmentation-and-mitrofanoff/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Mitrofanoff complications: time-to-event analysis of split versus intact appendix and meta-analysis. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39870851/. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

Mitrofanoff Procedure: Purpose, Process & Recovery. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/23535-mitrofanoff-procedure. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.

What Is the Mitrofanoff Procedure (Appendicovesicostomy)? Nationwide Children's Hospital. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/urology/procedures/mitrofanoff. Date Accessed September 30, 2026.