This resource from Craig Hospital explains the Mitrofanoff Procedure, which creates a self-sealing channel from the surface of the abdomen to the bladder. The channel is used for intermittent catheterization. It is often used for people with higher level injuries to be more independent with their bladder routine.
The Mitrofanoff Procedure is a surgical procedure to assist with bladder emptying. Originally developed for use in children, the procedure has become a surgical option for people living with spinal cord injury and neurogenic bladder. People who have difficulty with self-catheterization through the urethra or have discomfort with self-catheterization may have success with this method. It has been especially successful in women who have difficulty with self-catheterizations through the urethra and in people with recurrent and severe autonomic dysreflexia related to their bladder.
