Robot-Assisted Sigmoid Colon Conduit for Urinary Diversion: Avoiding Bowel Anasto-mosis in a Patient with Prior Loop...

Late radiation-induced genitourinary and gastrointestinal complications after multimodal treatment for pelvic malignancies frequently require complex reconstructive surgery, often necessitating both urinary and fecal diversion (1). In this setting, a colonic segment may provide an effective option for urinary diversion while avoiding bowel anastomosis (2, 3). Minimally invasive robotic approaches have increasingly expanded the feasibility of these complex reconstructions and may reduce morbidity, particularly in frail or previously irradiated patients (4-7). We describe a single-stage robot-assisted sigmoid colon conduit urinary diversion in a patient with a pre-existing loop colostomy.

A 46-year-old woman with prior pelvic chemoradiation developed a rectovaginal fistula requiring loop colostomy, followed by bilateral distal ureteral strictures, radiation cystitis, recurrent pyelonephritis, and a large parastomal hernia. After failed conservative management and preoperative nephrostomy placement, a single-stage robot-assisted procedure was performed. The operation included adhesiolysis, parastomal hernia repair, conversion of the loop to a terminal colostomy, and construction of a sigmoid colon urinary conduit. Ureterointestinal anastomoses were completed intracorporeally under indocyanine green fluorescence guidance.

The procedure was completed robotically without intraoperative complications. Total operative time was 95 minutes, with an estimated blood loss of 100 mL. Oral intake resumed on postoperative day 1, and the patient was discharged on day 3. At 6-month follow-up, renal function was preserved, with no recurrent infections or evidence of ureteral obstruction.

Robot-assisted sigmoid colon conduit is a safe and reproducible option for urinary diversion in selected patients requiring concomitant bowel diversion, avoiding bowel anastomosis and reducing reconstructive morbidity.