Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy

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Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy, also known as the Mitrofanoff procedure, attaches the appendix between the skin and the urinary bladder in order to provide an outlet for urine. The procedure is typically performed when there is a blockage of the normal outlet (as in urethral cancer) or when there is a need for frequent, often uncomfortable, catheterizations (as in spina bifida). In the procedure, a surgeon removes the appendix from its place at the end of the cecum. The appendix is then washed and an opening made at its blind end. One end is connected by sutures to the bladder and the other is connected to the skin. Urine is typically drained several times a day by use of a catheter inserted into the Mitrofanoff canal. If the appendix is not available for use, a different part of the intestines may be used.