Evaluation of findings during re-exploration for obstructive ileus after radical cystectomy and ileal-loop urinary...

To retrospectively evaluate the findings during re-exploration for obstructive ileus after radical cystectomy (RC) and ileal conduit diversion.

During a 12-year period, 434 patients who had RC and ileal conduit diversion were retrospectively evaluated for the diagnosis of early (

Abdominal re-exploration for SBO was necessary for 14 (3.2%) and 32 (7.3%) patients in the early and late postoperative period, respectively. The most common reasons for SBO were anastomotic malfunction (1.4%) and malignant recurrence (2.8%). Adhesions were the second most common cause leading to ileus in both periods (1.1% and 2.3%, respectively). When there was no retroperitonealization of the uretero-enteric anastomosis, SBO occurred more often both early and late (P = 0.06). Early anastomotic malfunction leading to SBO was more common (but not statistically significant, P = 0.06) when the entero-enteric anastomosis was hand-sutured end-to-end.

Anastomotic malfunction, bowel adhesions and internal hernias are responsible for SBO early after surgery. The above reasons, in addition to malignant recurrence, are the most common reasons for SBO in the late postoperative period.