Prevention of urological complications after radical operation of cervical carcinoma

Cervical carcinomas of stage Ib and II have been treated for extended radical therapy by radioisotope radical surgery at the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vienna, Austria. This extension of a more radical surgery requires to take measures in order to prevent urological and other postoperative complications. Chromocystoscopy, intravenous urography and functional scintigraphy of the kidney are carried out as routine preoperative investigations. Preservation of the adureter and an exact drainage of the field of operation are taken as intraoperative measures. Main emphasis of postoperative prophylaxis is the stimulation of ureter activity by distigminbromide and hexoprenaline. Distigminbromide stimulates the prevesical part of the ureter and increases the number of urinary excretions into the bladder. Hexoprenaline is a betamimetic substance which increases both local blood flow and number of ureter contractions. In addition, treatment by antibiotics, thrombosis prophylaxis with heparin and marcoumar and urine drainage by catheter are performed during surgery. The results of 187 radioisotope radical operations show that an uretero vaginal fistula was observed ruly in one patient (0.53%). Hydronephrosis was registered in 10 females (5.3%) and 42 subjects (22.5%) lack of bladder feeling was noted and incontinence was observed in 22 patients (11.8%) in the postoperative period.