A STATEMENT ABOUT THE XIAO PROCEDURE SURGICAL TRIAL

Since its inception, Sophie's Voice Foundation has closely monitored nerve rerouting surgery for bladder reinnervation as an avenue for research and treatment of children with spina bifida. Initial reports of this procedure, which was developed in China, suggested a very good success rate so that children could empty their bladders on their own and stay dry. For the past three years, we worked with doctors at Children's Hospital of Atlanta worked to develop a protocol for a surgical trial to be conducted in Atlanta while reviewing the results that were coming out of North American centers.

At this point, there is evidence that nerve rerouting can successfully bring new functional nerves into the bladder. This means that nerve rerouting should remain an important avenue for research.

However, the results in North America as measured by improvement in bladder function and continence have not yet matched the results in China.

Neuroscience tends to be very complex and scientists and doctors are just beginning to understand the way that nerves behave when they are divided and reconnected during rerouting procedures. There are many questions at a basic science level that will need to be answered in order to better understand how this procedure works and how it can be made more successful. Fortunately, the National Institutes of Health is supporting an effort continue evaluation of this procedure. We will continue to closely monitor emerging results. For now, Sophie's Voice Foundation and the participating physicians at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta believe that the most prudent course is to await these results. We will continue to focus on the prevention of spina bifida, prenatal education, support of family outreach programs and research that improves the quality of life for children with spina bifida.

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