National trends in urinary diversion over the past 20 years: an Australian study

To investigate the trends in urinary diversion (UD) in Australia over the past 20 years, to correlate with patient demographics and to compare with international data.

A retrospective analysis of Medicare Australia data was performed using the relevant Medicare Benefit Schedule procedure codes over the past 20 years. Included diversion procedures were ureterocutaneous, ureterocolonic, intestinal conduit and continent reservoir. All patients aged older than 15 years were included in the analyses.

Over the past two decades, 6124 cystectomies and 7166 UDs were subsidized by Medicare Australia. The median age group for UD was 65-74 years old and 71.8% were male. Intestinal conduit accounted for the majority of UDs (84.9%), followed by continent reservoirs (11.8%). Ureterocolonic and ureterocutaneous accounted for small proportions (2.9% and 0.4%, respectively). The absolute numbers of UD procedures increased over the past 20 years but the proportion of different methods remained constant. The rates of continent reservoir UD were significantly higher in men and people aged less than 55 years old (P < 0.001 for both). Over the course of the study, the proportion of people aged greater than 75 years undergoing UD increased significantly (P < 0.001).

In contrast to major international academic institutions, the proportion of continent reservoir UDs performed in Australia has not changed over the past two decades. Intestinal conduit remains the most common UD procedure.