[Functional results and complications of the ileal neobladder in over 200 patients]

Between April 1986 and October 1992, a total of 229 patients with invasive bladder cancer underwent radical cystectomy and lower urinary tract reconstruction by means of the ileal neobladder. The perioperative mortality was 2.4%. Subsequently 10.5% of the patients suffered from early complications that led to relaparotomy and 3.8% of the patients had bowel occlusion. Significant late complications were urethro-ileal strictures (6.7%) and stenosis of the ureteral anastomosis (3.3%). Despite a very strict definition of continence, only 2 patients with a follow up of more than 2 years had an incontinence grade 3. Most (77%) of the patients in this collective were perfectly continent day and night, while 11.5% had only occasional spotting and wore pads to be on the safe side. In conclusion, the medium-term results are now available (average follow up 41 months) and show that the ileal neobladder is the treatment of choice for male patients after radical cystectomy for the treatment of invasive bladder cancer.