Laparoscopic ileal conduit: five-year follow-up

To report the techniques used for intracorporeal laparoscopic construction of an ileal conduit urinary diversion and long-term patient follow-up after this procedure.

A 28-year-old man with cerebral palsy, a neurogenic bladder, and voiding dysfunction was referred for definitive management of his urinary tract after several episodes of pyelonephritis. A conduit urinary diversion was performed using a 5-port, transabdominal approach. An appropriate length of ileum was used for diversion, and ureterointestinal anastomoses were performed using a modified Bricker technique. All aspects of the procedure were performed intracorporeally, including isolation of conduit, bowel reanastomosis, ureteral mobilization, and ureterointestinal anastomosis. A 12-mm port site was enlarged and used as the stoma, which was constructed in routine fashion.

Five years after surgery, this patient had normal and stable renal function, with a serum creatinine of 0.8 mg/dL. Serial imaging studies continued to reveal prompt and symmetric renal function and no evidence of obstruction or reflux.

Laparoscopic ileal conduit construction is feasible and can provide durable results. Although technically challenging, ongoing technical refinements will make performance of reconstructive laparoscopy more widely applicable. Larger series with substantial follow-up will help illuminate the place of laparoscopic noncontinent urinary diversion in the surgical armamentarium.