[Complications of Kock continent reservoir. Report of 103 cases]

We installed a Kock continent reservoir in 103 patients after radical cystectomy or pelvic exenteration between Feb. 1986 and Dec. 1989. They consisted of 81 male and 22 female patients. Patients' age ranged from 30 to 78 years with the average being 63 years. Their original diseases were bladder cancer (96 patients), prostatic cancer (2), sigmoid colon cancer (2) and others (3), The Kock reservoir was made by the procedure described by D. G. Skinner et al. The mean operation time for reservoir creation was 220 minutes. In 99 patients with a Kock reservoir for more than 3 months, the capacity of the reservoir was 200-900 ml with the average being 490 ml and the frequency of self-catheterization was 4 to 6 times a day. Early complications occurred within 3 months in 27 (26%) patients. Complications directly related to the reservoir were urine leakage (5 patients), intestine reservoir fistula formation (3) and necrosis of the reservoir (1). Late complications occurred after 3 months in 25 (25%) patients. They consisted of difficulty of catheterization (9 patients), ureteral reflux from reservoir (2), hydronephrosis (8), abscess (4), metabolic acidosis (2) and others. The results indicated that this procedure is an appropriate urinary diversion since the quality of life in the patients with a Kock reservoir is better. However, after this procedure surgical complications were not infrequent. Therefore, this procedure should be performed in selected patients.