Congenital Heart Defects in Patients with Classic Bladder Exstrophy: A Hitherto Neglected Association?

This prospective study of 39 patients with classic bladder exstrophy found an 18.9% prevalence of congenital heart defects, higher than previously reported. The authors recommend routine preoperative echocardiography screening despite no observed differences in surgical outcomes between patients with and without cardiac anomalies.