Initial Experience with Intracorporeal Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy and Detaenial Sigmoid Neobladder...

Intracorporeal urinary diversion is considered to be effective in improving intestinal function recovery and reducing the occurrence of early complications after radical cystectomy. Almost all neobladders constructed via intracorporeal laparoscopy have used the ileum.

To present our intracorporeal detaenial sigmoid neobladder technique that replicates open surgery principles and to present oncological and functional outcomes and complication rates.

This is a case series from a single tertiary referral hospital from September 11, 2018 to April 19, 2019, including 12 selected patients with pathologically confirmed muscle-invasive or refractory non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Laparoscopic radical cystectomy including pelvic lymph-node dissection and intracorporeal detaenial sigmoid neobladder, which is demonstrated in the accompanying video.

Demographic, clinical, and pathological data were collected. Perioperative outcomes and 1-yr oncological and functional outcomes are reported.

All surgeries were successful without severe complications or conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time (± standard deviation) was 414.6 ± 52.2 min, with 33.8 ± 6.80 min for neobladder construction. Surgical margins and lymph nodes were all negative for metastasis. All patients were encouraged to do ambulation exercise 1 d after surgery, and oral liquid intake was resumed between days 2 and 4. However, because this was a retrospective study in a single centre with very few cases, it is difficult to reach a definitive conclusion.

Intracorporeal detaenial sigmoid neobladder is technically feasible with no need for additional medical equipment. Encouraging outcomes were observed during short-term follow-up. This approach could represent another alternative choice for patients undergoing laparoscopic radical cystectomy. Longer-term follow-up data are needed to evaluate oncological and functional outcomes.

We describe our stepwise technique for intracorporeal detaenial sigmoid neobladder while replicating established open surgery principles. In addition to retaining the advantages of a neobladder, better postoperative recovery is achieved.