Metabolic complications of the urinary intestinal diversion: ileo-caecal bladder compared with ileal conduit

Five patients with an ileal conduit and 5 with an ileo-caecal bladder substitute have been studied metabolically. All had undergone cystectomy for infiltrating carcinoma and they formed 2 homogeneous groups in terms of age and follow-up. Function in both groups was within normal limits but closer examination of patients with an ileo-caecal bladder revealed mild functional damage as shown by reduced creatinine secretion, a lower level of bicarbonate and lower urinary acid valency secretion. It was concluded that the ileal conduit is more satisfactory from a metabolic point of view than the ileo-caecal bladder, which requires closer follow-up and treatment with bicarbonates if necessary.