Cystoprostatectomy and substitution cystoplasty for locally invasive bladder cancer

The results and long-term follow-up of 48 patients undergoing cystoprostatectomy and substitution cystoplasty for T2/3, M0 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder are reported. There was no operative mortality but 1 early death from thromboembolic disease. Thirty-six patients are alive with a mean follow-up of 57 months (range 12-120). Eleven patients died of disseminated disease. Thirty-one patients (64%) regained normal continence by day and night and a further 8 were dry by day but incontinent at night; 9 patients underwent further surgery for incontinence and this was successful in 8, giving an overall continence rate of 79% and a day-time continence rate of 98%. Of the 38 patients claiming to be potent pre-operatively, 24 (63%) were potent post-operatively. Nerve-sparing cystoprostatectomy and substitution cystoplasty is a safe alternative to a "standard" cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion in a selected group of men undergoing radical surgery for invasive bladder cancer and it achieves its aims of preserving continence and potency in the majority of patients.