The Z-shaped ileal neobladder after radical cystectomy: an 18 years experience with 329 patients

Study Type - Therapy (case series).

Level of evidence: 4.

Objective: To evaluate the results in terms of functional results and morbidity of Z-shaped ileal neobladder performed in a single center.

Patients and methods: 329 consecutive male patients who had an orthotopic bladder replacement using the Z-shaped ileal neobladder between May 1990 and January 2009.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 64.4 ± 9.6 years, with a mean follow-up of 59.4 ± 55 months. Eighty-three early complications in 80/294 patients (27.2%) occurred. The average Clavian rate of these early complications was 2.24. Among these, 12 complications in 12 patients (4.1%) were pouch-related, and 3 reoperations were required. Two patients died from cardiac complications. Sixty-three late complications in 60/294 patients (20.4%) were recorded. The average Clavian rate of these late complications was 2.98. Among these, 47 complications in 45/294 patients (15.3%) were pouch-related, and 18 reoperations were required, essentially for ureteral anastomosis stricture. Satisfactory daytime urinary continence was achieved in 92% of patients. Daytime continence was obtained within, on average, 6.8 ± 16.4 months. The interval between each daytime urination was 2.6 ± 0.8 h (median = 2.5 [1-5] h). Forty-four (15%) patients developed metabolic acidosis which only required oral medication. Satisfactory nocturnal urinary continence was achieved in 87% of patients. Night-time continence was obtained within, on average, 10.8 ± 22.4 months. Hyper-continence with subsequent need for CISC was observed in 4%.

Conclusion: In our series of 329 patients, compared with the other techniques, the Z-shaped ileal neobladder had an 'expected' complication rate for this high risk surgery with satisfactory daytime and night-time continence in nine out of ten patients.