[A study on reservoir function of Kock pouch during a 3-year postoperative period]

Kock continent ileal reservoir has been one of the major options of urinary diversion for the patients with bladder cancer. We performed Kock pouch operation in 16 patients (male 12, female 4; from 41 to 66 years old, mean age 57 years old). Since the reservoir function of Kock pouch after a long postoperative period is not well known, we examined the volume capacity, the compliance and the length of efferent valve of Kock pouch in 8 patients during a 3-year postoperative period. Although the compliance was stable, the volume capacity and the length of the efferent valve showed a decreasing tendency. The shorter efferent valve was not always associated with the case of urinary incontinence. Most of the complications in 15 patients was trouble of efferent valve (prolapse of efferent valve in 7 cases and eversion or fistula formation that required reconstruction surgery in 3 cases). Although some complications were observed, the reservoir function of the pouch was stable. Therefore this method is reliable for permanent urinary diversion.