The ileal neobladder in women: 9 years of experience with 18 patients

Purpose: We present our surgical and functional experience with orthotopic bladder replacement in women. Materials and Methods: Since 1986, 18 women have undergone lower urinary tract reconstruction with an ileal neobladder. A nerve sparing cystectomy is done, and reservoirs are connected to the proximal urethra or urethrovesical junction. A total of 13 patients was available for complete followup as of March 1995. Results: There were no perioperative deaths and few early complications. The only 2 failures were a neobladder vaginal fistula and these cases, which were converted to a conduit, are excluded from this study. Late complications requiring rehospitalization or reoperation in 2 patients included urethroileal stenosis that had to be dilated without further sequelae and bilateral ureteroileal stenosis that was treated endoscopically. At 3 months postoperatively excellent continence was achieved in 8 patients, while 2 had grade 1 stress incontinence and 3 were hypercontinent. As of March 1995 only 4 patients voided to completion while 9 required intermittent catheterization (continuously in 5 and twice daily for residual urine in 4). We were unable to demonstrate a functional difference of the various resection lines located at the proximal urethra or urethrovesical junction. Conclusions: Urethral support and nerve sparing cystectomy plus the ileal neobladder as a reservoir guarantee excellent continence in all patients. Despite our efforts, we have been unable to demonstrate any advantage of the nerve and urethral support sparing cystectomy technique as far as micturition is concerned. The development of hypercontinence in 70% of the patients with time demonstrates that our current understanding of the functional and anatomical basics of the voiding process is too limited to allow bladder replacement with a perfect functional result in all female patients. Our long-term experience, which is different from initial reports, justifies creation of an ileal neobladder in select female patients as long as they accept a 70% risk of clean intermittent catheterization in the long term. Overall patient satisfaction, including sexual life, is exceptional. However, disappointment is considerable when clean intermittent catheterization is required after periods of successful voiding per urethram.