[Studer's bladder: functional results and morbidity in 33 patients]

Several types of enterocystoplasty can be performed after cystoprostatectomy for cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate our 8-year experience with Studer's technique.

The medical files of 33 patients were studied retrospectively. The median age was 60 years. Bladder replacement was performed when frozen section histological examination of urethral biopsies was negative. The median follow-up was 41 months. Continence was evaluated by means of a questionnaire. Patients not using any pads or only using pads as a precaution were considered to be diurnally continent, and those using no more than one pad per night were considered to be nocturnally continent.

Postoperative surgical morbidity consisted of two pelvic abscesses, two cases of obstructive acute pyelonephritis, one occlusion, and three wound complications. Eight patients developed urethroneovesical stenosis and seven ureters were reimplanted because of stenosis (two right ureters and five left ureters). Diurnal and nocturnal continence rates were 67% and 74% at 12 months, and 80% and 94% at 24 months, respectively. Seven patients developed acute pyelonephritis, renal function deteriorated in one patient (preoperative renal failure) and one patient developed acidosis.

Studer's technique is a simple technique providing satisfactory functional results while preserving the upper tract by means of a simple and original antireflux system (ileal ureter) with a median follow-up of 41 months, although it was associated with a considerable stenosis and pyelonephritis rate.