Seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium: experience with 16 patients

Report of initial clinical experience with seromuscular colocystoplasty lined with urothelium (SCLU), a new operation to increase bladder capacity and compliance without incorporating intestinal mucosa into the urinary tract. We have previously reported the technique and results of this procedure in a canine model.

Sixteen patients underwent SCLU at two institutions. Their charts were reviewed retrospectively. The patients have been observed for a mean of 12 months.

Postoperatively, the bladder capacity increased an average of 2.4-fold from a mean of 139 mL (+/- 23.7 SEM) to 335 mL (+/- 38.9 SEM) in 14 patients (P < 0.001). Two patients required reaugmentation. Preoperative and postoperative bladder end filling pressures were available in 13 patients and decreased from a mean of 51.6 cm H2O (+/- 4.2 SEM) to 27.7 cm H2O (+/- 2.4 SEM) (P < 0.001). Of the 16 patients, 13 were incontinent preoperatively; 5 had renal insufficiency. Three patients have undergone renal transplantation following SCLU. After SCLU, 13 patients were dry day and night, 1 incontinent at night only, and 2 remained incontinent. Ten patients have undergone postoperative bladder biopsy. Seven demonstrate urothelium covering the augmented portion of the bladder, 2 have regrowth of colonic mucosa, and 1 shows a mixture of colonic mucosa and urothelium.

The results presented suggest that SCLU is a viable alternative to the more conventional forms of bladder augmentation in selected patients.