Ileal bladder augmentation and vitamin B12: Levels decrease with time after surgery

Abstract Objective We investigated vitamin B12 deficiency following ileocystoplasty in children. Methods Patients who underwent ileocystoplasty between December 1993 and September 2006 were included and B12 levels were retrospectively analysed. Patients with a serum B12 of less than 150 pg/ml were considered deficient. The distance of the ileal segment from the ileocaecal valve was recorded. Results There were 105 patients in the series; 61 were male. Mean age at surgery was 7.7 years (SD = 3.9). The mean interval from surgery to most recent B12 level was 50 months (SD = 30). None of the patients were on B12 supplementation. Two patients were B12 deficient, both more than 7 years after surgery; 44% of patients with levels available 7 years after surgery had a B12 below 300 pg/ml. There was a significant negative correlation between B12 level and length of follow up (Spearman’s rank, P