Functional Results of Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder With Serous-Lined Extramural Ureteral Reimplantation: Experience With 450 Patients

PURPOSE: We report functional results of the orthotopic ileal neobladder using a serous-lined extramural tunnel as an antireflux procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One-stage radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal W-shaped neobladder creation were performed in 353 male and 97 female patients for invasive bladder cancer. The ureters were reimplanted using a serous-lined extramural tunnel for reflux prevention. Of the patients 344 were evaluable at a mean followup plus or minus standard deviation of 38 +/- 25 months. Evaluation included clinical and radiographic studies to determine functional and oncological outcomes. RESULTS: Four patients (0.8%) died in the hospital. Early complications in 42 patients (9%) were treated conservatively but 3 women underwent vaginal repair of a pouch-vaginal fistula. During the observation period there were 90 oncological failures, of which 3 were isolated urethral recurrence. Late complications included pouch stones in 10 cases, outflow obstruction in 11, mucous retention in 2, adhesive bowel obstruction in 3 and hypercontinence in 9 females. The incidence of daytime and nighttime continence was 93.3% and 80%, respectively. The upper tracts remain unchanged or improved in 96.2% of the reimplanted renal units, while reflux was observed in 3%. CONCLUSIONS: The serous-lined extramural tunnel has proved its efficiency and durability as an antireflux technique.