MIAMI, FL USA (UroToday.com) - The authors of this poster provided the background of SPT placement, commonly performed in patients with neurogenic bladder.
Bowel injury is a known complication, and even under ultrasound guidance and placement, it can be a challenge to perform in patients with a high BMI, small bladder capacity, open bladder outlet, and prior abdominal surgery. Also, while ultrasound guidance is an option, it is not always readily available. 
Ultrasound provides poor visualization in patients with open urethras or small bladder capacities, as they cannot be greatly distended. Intraoperative complication rates for patients with neurogenic bladder undergoing cystoscopic-guided SPT placement have been reported as high as 11%. Overall, bowel injury is 2.4%, and mortality is 1.8%.
The goal of laparoscopic guidance is to avoid this morbidity while not subjecting the patient to open SPT placement. In this small pilot study of 5 patients, SPT insertion under laparoscopic guidance appeared to be safe, efficient, and feasible, with few complications.
Presented by James T, Kearns, Gregory T. Bales, and Doreen E. Chung at the Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) Winter Meeting - February 25 - March 1, 2014 - Doral Golf Resort and Spa - Miami, Florida USA
Sinai Health System
The University of Chicago Medicine
Reported for UroToday.com by Diane K. Newman, DNP, FAAN, BCB-PMD