[Orthotopic bladder replacement: II. Functional results and complications in patients with Studer-type ileal...

Since 1988, 100 Studer ileal low pressure urinary reservoirs have been performed at our institution. The functional results and the complications observed in these patients are presented.

Patients submitted to radical cystectomy and lower urinary tract reconstruction with the Studer technique from 1988 to 1994 were retrospectively studied. All patients were males, their mean age was 60 years (37-75) and the mean follow-up was 18 months (6-72). The isoperistaltic ileal segment as antireflux mechanism was utilized in 97 cases and intussusception of the ileal segment to which the ureters were anastomosed in 3 cases. Reinsertion of the ureter was done using the Wallace technique in 90 cases and by direct fixation according to a personal technique (H.V.) in 10 cases. Anastomosis of the neobladder and the urethra was done with the end of the second suture of the orthotopic reservoir. The neurovascular bands were preserved in 21 patients less than 60 years old with tumor stage T2-T3a, according to the technique described by Walsh and Mostwin (1984).

One patient died early postoperatively from sepsis. The early complications included urinoma (4%), urinary fistula (3%), intestinal fistula (2%), pulmonary complications (4%), pelvic hematoma (1%) and intestinal obstruction (3%). Only 4 of these patients required surgical resolution of the complication. The late complications included stricture of neobladder-urethra anastomosis (6%), lithiasis in neobladder (4%), ureteroileal stricture (8%), 5 renal units were lost, chronic urinary retention (5%), symptomatic metabolic acidosis (1%) and urinary infection (14%). Thirteen of these patients with late complications required surgery. At 6 months' minimum follow-up, 90% of the patients were continent during the day and 60% during the night. Overall, 36% of the patients recovered erection postoperatively; 76% of the patients with preserved neurovascular bands recovered erection. Forty-four percent of the patients claimed they had a satisfactory sexual activity postoperatively.

The Studer neobladder permits voiding through the urethra, preservation of the upper urinary tract, the urinary infection rate is acceptable, the complication rate is low and it offers patients continence rates that allow them to have a good quality of life.