Prune belly syndrome (PBS) classically includes: hypoplastic/absent abdominal wall musculature; bilateral cryptorchidism; and urinary tract abnormalities (hydroureteronephrosis, megacystis, prostatic hypoplasia/dysplasia, renal dysplasia). In the U.S., the incidence of PBS is 3.8/100 000 live births, affecting majority males. ^[1] Anorectal malformations (ARM) have rarely been associated. PBS may result from an early error of embryogenesis, specifically of mesodermal development.^[2] The definitive pathogenesis of PBS remains largely unknown.

Congenital pouch colon (CPC) is a pouch-like dilation of varying amount of shortened colon, associated with ARM.^[3] The pouch typically contains a fistula to the genitourinary tract. Like PBS, CPC has a strong male predominance (male to female ratio 2.25-7:1).^{[4], [5]} Over 90% of patient series of CPC and ARM are from India. ^[3] Patients with PBS and CPC have been described in a handful of case reports. Herein we describe a prenatally diagnosed patient with PBS and CPC, and the first patient in the U.S (to the best of our knowledge). We also performed a literature review of published cases to understand surgical outcomes for patients with this rare combination.

A 30-year-old G2P0010 woman was referred for evaluation due to an 18-week ultrasound concerning fetal abdominal mass. The mother’s ancestry is Danish while the father’s is English/Irish/German, with no family history of congenital anomalies. A fetal MRI revealed penile urethra dilation, protrusion of the abdominal wall suggestive of abdominal wall deficiency, right pelviectasis and dilated bowel containing heterogeneous signal intensity (Fig. 1). The 32-week ultrasound showed a protuberant fetal abdomen with intraluminal echogenic material suspicious for partially calcified meconium, which can be observed in vesicoenteric fistula due to the admixture of urine with meconium. No normal-appearing perianal complex was identified. The parents were counseled about the multiple fetal anomalies and wished to continue the pregnancy. Given intrauterine growth restriction (<3rd percentile) and multiple fetal anomalies, the mother was induced at 37 weeks and a healthy male (birth weight 2.385 kg) was delivered vaginally. The neonate had thin abdominal wall musculature, an enlarged ventral penis, non-palpable bilateral testes, bifid-type scrotum, no anus, and flat buttocks. An abdominal x-ray showed an air-filled loop of bowel in the right quadrant and orogastric decompression was initiated. At day 1 of age, he developed worsening abdominal distension (Fig. 2) and underwent a laparotomy. Intraoperatively, he had a distended bladder and urethral obstruction requiring a suprapubic catheter. His colon was free-floating without retroperitoneal attachments. The cecum and ascending colon were dilated until an abrupt transition at the transverse colon, impacted with inspissated meconium (Fig. 3). The sigmoid was dilated and ended in a blind pouch with a fistula to the bladder posteriorly. The fistula was not divided, instead a sigmoid colotomy was created to evacuate the meconium and irrigate the colon. After ensuring that there was no colonic stricture, a colostomy and mucous fistula were created 5 cm proximal to the sigmoid pouch. While an ileostomy was considered, the small bowel only measured 125 cm, consistent with 45% of expected for age.[6] An intraabdominal left testis was at the internal ring, but the right testis was not visualized. Postoperatively, the patient recovered uneventfully, a vesicostomy was created two weeks later, and the child was discharged on full oral feeds, gaining weight. A cystourethrogram at 2 weeks of age revealed grade 5 left vesicoureteral reflux, an enlarged bladder, and a small prostatic urethra. An antegrade contrast study through the mucous fistula showed 5 cm between the distal opacified colon and expected anal location. Genetic work-up included a normal microarray and Malformations Panel (Invitae).

To our knowledge, this is the first report of a child prenatally diagnosed with PBS and CPC, and the first report from the U.S. (Table. 1). Three patients received uneventful antenatal care; the remainder either had not received any prenatal care or it was not specified. Most patients presented on the first day of life. All but one patient underwent a single-stage repair (one operation rather than several) including fistula ligation, pouch excision, and creation of end colostomy or ileostomy. The patient in the earliest case report underwent staged colostomy followed by a pull-through. Our report describes the prenatal imaging, and surgical approach, and provides insights for future cases.

After fetal MRI, the differential diagnosis included congenital megalourethra, PBS, high ARM, and CPC with colovesicular fistula. A coordinated effort between the referring provider and tertiary care center facilitated multidisciplinary counseling including maternal-fetal specialists, nephrologists, pediatric surgeons, pediatric urologists, and neonatologists. The mother was induced with a multidisciplinary team on standby.

The optimal surgical approach for CPC is controversial. In isolated CPC, several strategies are described, with two or more staged procedures with or without pouch excision or protective colostomy. ^{[7], [8], [9]} Our patient was stable at birth, with radiographic findings typical of CPC; thus, the decision was made for initial orogastric decompression and fluid resuscitation. However, the patient developed rapidly worsening abdominal distention with imaging concerning intraabdominal air, necessitating emergent surgery. Patients with PBS and CPC who have the benefit of a prenatal diagnosis may require early (within 12 hours of life) operative exploration.

Several aspects of our operative approach are relevant. A left-sided “hockey stick” incision with ligation of the colovesicular fistula has been described. ^[8] We performed a transverse infra-umbilical incision due to significant abdominal distension and hypoplastic abdominal wall. Dilation of the cecum/ascending colon and presence of a rectosigmoid pouch was initially consistent with CPC type V. However, thick inspissated meconium was found obstructing the transverse colon, and after removal, the cecal distention improved leading to a diagnosis of CPC type IV with a single rectosigmoid pouch. Ligation of the colovesicular fistula was considered. However, without a full understanding of the urologic anatomy in the setting of urinary obstruction, we were concerned that ligation would increase the risk for urinary leak. Additionally, we worried that early pouch excision may limit future reconstructive options. Thus, a colostomy and mucus fistula were performed, and the pouch colon was preserved. The appendix was preserved to allow for potential appendicostomy for antegrade flushes or Mitrofanoff for bladder catheterization. Given the multitude of his anomalies, the current plan is for a three-stage repair with the next stage being fistula ligation and pull-through at approximately one year of life.

The patient exhibited many of the urology anomalies seen in PBS such as enlarged bladder with bilateral hydroureteronephrosis. Difficulty placing a urethral catheter was likely due to hypoplasia of the prostatic urethra or penile abnormalities. Intraoperatively, the testicles were intra-abdominal, however had descended bilaterally by 4 weeks. Vesicoureteral reflux may require reimplantation of ureter, which can be done simultaneously or as a staged approach with the management of the neurogenic bladder.

This report is the first to demonstrate that PBS and CPC can occur in North America in fetuses of European ethnic descent. While other cases likely exist, they may have been considered typical high ARMs. The objective of this report is to improve the knowledge and recognition of PBS and CPC to allow for better surgical collaboration in the care of these patients. We recommend early referral to fetal treatment center and fetal MRI for early diagnosis, which may facilitate rapid operative intervention. Early coordination with a multidisciplinary team is critical for patients with this complex combination of congenital syndromes.