Bowel function after urinary diversion

Perioperative morbidity, bowel function and oncologic outcome after radical cystectomy and ileal orthotopic neobladder reconstruction: Studer-pouch versus I-pouch

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether the length of ileum used for ileal orthotopic neobladder (ONB) reconstruction (60 cm vs. 40 cm) after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BC) impacts on bowel function, postoperative complications or survival outcome.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this retrospective study, we included 56 patients who received an ONB (Studer (S)-Pouch: 23 patients; I-Pouch: 33 patients) after RC for BC between 2003 and 2011. Preoperative comorbidities were assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and surgical complications as graded by the Clavien-Dindo classification. Changes of perioperative bowel habits were retrospectively evaluated by the validated Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). Kaplan-Meier analyses calculated survival outcomes between both ONB types.

RESULTS

Preoperative CCI was comparable between S- and I-pouch patients. No significant differences were observed for 30-day major- (p = 0.33) and minor (p = 0.96) complication rates between both neobladder types. S-Pouch patients reported higher preoperative stool frequencies (S-pouch: mean 2.7; I-pouch: mean 3.4; p = 0.049) and tended to suffer from urgency (S: mean 2.9; I: mean 3.4; p = 0.059). No significant differences in postoperative bowel disorders were found between both neobladder types (S-Pouch: 15.9, IQR; I-Pouch: 16.6 IQR; p = 0.84). Furthermore, we observed no overall-, cancer specific- or recurrence free survival advantage for either of both ONB variants (p = 0.81; 0.65 and 0.78), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Comorbidities, perioperative complication rates and bowel habits were similar between both ONB substitutes and did not influence survival outcomes. These stratified data suggest that the length of ileum used for ONB reconstruction (60- vs. 40 cm) does not impact per se on postoperative bowel function.

Tissue engineering for the oncologic urinary bladder

Urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in patients with bladder cancer normally takes the form of an ileal conduit or neobladder. However, such diversions are associated with a number of complications including increased risk of infection. A plausible alternative is the construction of a neobladder (or bladder tissue) in vitro using autologous cells harvested from the patient. Biomaterials can be used as a scaffold for naturally occurring regenerative stem cells to latch onto to regrow the bladder smooth muscle and epithelium. Such engineered tissues show great promise in urologic tissue regeneration, but are faced with a number of challenges. For example, the differentiation mesenchymal stem cells from various sources can be difficult and the smooth muscle cells formed do not precisely mimic the natural cells.

Defecation disturbances after cystectomy for urinary bladder cancer

OBJECTIVE

• To describe and compare long-term defecation disturbances in patients who had undergone a cystectomy due to urinary bladder cancer with non-continent urostomies, continent reservoirs and orthotopic neobladder urinary diversions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

• During their follow-up we attempted to contact all men and women aged 30-80 years who had undergone cystectomy and urinary diversion at seven Swedish hospitals. • During a qualitative phase we identified defecation disturbances as a distressful symptom and included this item in a study-specific questionnaire together with free-hand comments. The patients completed the questionnaire at home. • Outcome variables were dichotomized and the results are presented as relative risks with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS

• The questionnaire was returned from 452 (92%) of 491 identified patients. Up to 30% reported problems with the physiological emptying process of stool (bowel movement, sensory rectal function, awareness of need for defecation, motoric rectal and anal function, straining ability). • A sense of decreased straining capacity was reported by 20% of the men and women with non-continent urostomy and 14% and 8% of those with continent reservoirs and orthotopic neobladders, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

• Of the cystectomized individuals 30% reported problems with the physiological emptying process of stool (bowel movement, sensory rectal function, awareness of need for defecation, motoric rectal and anal function, straining ability). • Those wanting to improve the situation for bladder cancer survivors may consider communicating before surgery the possibility of stool-emptying problems, and asking about them after surgery.

Bowel dysfunction after transposition of intestinal segments into the urinary tract: 8-year prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Bowel function may be disturbed after intestinal segments are transposed into the urinary tract to reconstruct or replace the bladder. In 1997 our group was the first to report major bowel dysfunction in a cohort of such patients. Up to 42% of those who were asymptomatic preoperatively described new bowel symptoms postoperatively including explosive diarrhea, nocturnal diarrhea, fecal urgency, fecal incontinence and flatus leakage. We now describe bowel symptoms in this same cohort 8 years later (2005).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 116 patients were evaluable. Of the remaining 37 from the original study 30 had died, 5 no longer wished to be involved and 2 could not be located. Patients were asked to complete postal questionnaires identical to those used in the first followup, assessing the severity of bowel symptoms and quality of life using 2 validated instruments. Responses were compared with those from the original study. The Nottingham Health Profile quality of life scores were also compared to age and sex matched norms.

RESULTS

There were 96 patients (83%) who completed 8-year followup questionnaires, including 43 after ileal conduit diversion (group 1), 17 after clam enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder (group 2), 18 after bladder reconstruction for neurogenic bladder dysfunction (group 3) and 18 with bladder replacement for nonneurogenic causes (group 4). High prevalence rates of bowel symptoms persisted with no statistically significant differences between the 2 times. Of those with symptoms in 2005, approximately 50% had reported similar symptoms in 1997. Patients treated with clam enterocystoplasty (group 2) still reported the highest prevalence (59%) of troublesome diarrhea with 1 in 2 on regular antidiarrheal medication. They also had high rates of fecal incontinence (47%), fecal urgency (41%) and nocturnal bowel movement (18%), and a large number reported a moderate or severe adverse effect on work (36%), social life (50%) and sexual activity (43%). High rates were also reported by patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction, including 50% with troublesome diarrhea. This symptom was reported by 19% after ileal conduit and by 17% after bladder replacement for nonneurogenic causes. The impact of bowel symptoms on everyday activities and quality of life persisted, remaining most severe after clam enterocystoplasty, with 24% regretting undergoing the procedure because of subsequent bowel symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

After more than 8 years, operations involving transposition of intestinal segments continue to be associated with high rates of bowel symptoms which impact everyday activities. These are particularly troublesome following enterocystoplasty for overactive bladder and bladder reconstruction for neurogenic bladder dysfunction. These risks should influence patient selection and potential patients should be warned before undergoing surgery.

Long-term follow-up of continent urinary diversion after pelvic exenteration for gynecologic malignancies

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this retrospective study was to analyze the long-term outcome of patients undergoing a continent urinary diversion (UD) at the time of pelvic exenteration (PE).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between February 1993 and January 2001, 60 PE for gynecologic malignancies and requiring a UD were performed. Patient's preference, type of UD planned, type of UD performed, and late urinary morbidity (after day 90) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Eighty-two percent of the entire group (49/60) matched preoperatively criteria to have a continent UD and 41 continent UD were eventually performed (87%). Postoperative mortality in patients with a continent UD was 4.9% (2/41) and wasn't related to urinary complications. After a 20-month median follow-up, 18 patients (46%) with a continent UD developed late complications directly UD-related. These complications were: (a) major in 28% (5/18) requiring re-operation in 3 cases or endoscopic treatment in 2 cases; (b) minor in 72% (13/18) constantly medically treated. Chronic diarrhea was more frequent in patient who had small bowel or left colon resection (P < 0.05) and urine leakage was more frequent in patient with higher BMI (P < 0.05). At last follow-up, no patient had stopped self-catheterizations or asked for undiversion.

CONCLUSIONS

In our experience, continent UD at the time of PE despite high acceptability and feasibility rate, appeared to be strongly related to specific late complications, uncommon with ileal conduit. However, these complications remained more frequently minor and could be treated safely and conservatively.