[The Miami pouch: a reliable continent urinary diversion after pelvic exenteration]

To describe the technique and present the results obtained with the Miami reservoir, a continent urinary diversion, after pelvic exenteration for advanced gynaecological tumours.

A Miami reservoir was performed in 12 patients between January 1993 and January 1995. A detubed right colonic reservoir was created using automatic resorbable staples. The ureters were reimplanted into the reservoir using an anti-reflux system and continence was ensured by forming a tube with the terminal loop of ileum and by using a Bauhin valve, which can be reinforced when it is incompetent. Regular postoperative follow-up was conducted (6 to 26 months) with monitoring of laboratory parameters, intravenous urography, opacification of the reservoir, urodynamic assessment of the continent diversion.

There were no surgical complications related to the urinary diversion. Urinary continence was obtained in every case and after medical treatment of residual peristaltic contractions of the detubed colonic reservoir in 2 patients. Protection of the upper urinary tract was satisfactory after 2 years of follow-up, without stenosis or reflux of the uretero-colonic anastomoses. The mean capacity of the colonic reservoir was 465.5 +/- 101 ml at 6 months, with filling pressures lower than 20 cm H2O.

The Miami reservoir is a continent urinary diversion which is relatively easy to perform and reliable in terms of continence and protection of upper tract. However, a longer postoperative follow-up is required. The quality of life of young patients after pelvic exenteration is improved due to this type of contingent diversion which avoids the need for an abdominal urine collector, although it requires intermittent self-catheterization.