Functional and Oncological Outcomes of Female Pelvic Organ-preserving Robot-assisted Radical Cystectomy

Urinary function in female patients after traditional, organ-sparing and nerve-sparing radical cystectomy for bladder cancer: a systematic review and pooled analysis

OBJECTIVES

To determine and summarize the available data on urinary, sexual, and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) outcomes after traditional radical cystectomy (RC), reproductive organ-preserving RC (ROPRC) and nerve-sparing RC (NSRC) for bladder cancer (BCa) in female patients.

METHODS

The PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases were searched to identify studies reporting functional outcomes in female patients undergoing RC and urinary diversion for the treatment of BCa. The outcomes of interest were voiding function (for orthotopic neobladder [ONB]), sexual function and HRQOL. The following independent variables were derived and included in the meta-analysis: pooled rate of daytime and nighttime continence/incontinence, and intermittent self-catheterization (ISC) rates. Analyses were performed separately for traditional, organ- and/or nerve-sparing surgical approaches.

RESULTS

Fifty-three studies comprising 2740 female patients (1201 traditional RC and 1539 organ-/nerve-sparing RC, and 264 nerve-sparing-alone RC) were eligible for qualitative synthesis; 44 studies comprising 2418 female patients were included in the quantitative synthesis. In women with ONB diversion, the pooled rates of daytime continence after traditional RC, ROPRC and NSRC were 75.2%, 79.3% and 71.2%, respectively. The pooled rate of nighttime continence after traditional RC was 59.5%; this rate increased to 70.7% and 71.7% in women who underwent ROPRC and NSRC, respectively. The pooled rate of ISC after traditional RC with ONB diversion in female patients was 27.6% and decreased to 20.6% and 16.8% in patients undergoing ROPRC and NSRC, respectively. The use of different definitions and questionnaires in the assessment of postoperative sexual and HRQOL outcomes did not allow a systematic comparison.

CONCLUSIONS

Female organ- and nerve-sparing surgical approaches during RC seem to result in improved voiding function. There is a significant need for well-designed studies exploring sexual and HRQOL outcomes to establish evidence-based management strategies to support a shared decision-making process tailored towards patient expectations and satisfaction. Understanding expected functional, sexual and quality-of-life outcomes is necessary to allow individualized pre- and postoperative counselling and care delivery in female patients planned to undergo RC.

Female pelvic organ-preserving robot-assisted simple cystectomy and intracorporeal ileal neobladder reconstruction on a young woman with Hunner-type interstitial cystitis

Introduction

Cystectomy is the last treatment option for Hunner-type interstitial cystitis. However, consensus regarding optimal patient selection or treatment approaches is lacking.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old woman presented to a regional hospital with bladder pain and frequent urination. Antimicrobial therapy was administered; however, her symptoms persisted and she was finally diagnosed with HIC. Multiple endoscopic fulgurations of Hunner's lesions with bladder hydrodistension or intravesical therapy were performed; however, the symptoms persisted. A urethral catheter was inserted 1 month before she visited our clinic because of a severely contracted bladder. We performed female pelvic organ-preserving robot-assisted simple cystectomy and intracorporeal ileal neobladder reconstruction. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and her symptoms resolved.

Conclusion

This is the first report of pelvic organ-preserving robot-assisted simple cystectomy and intracorporeal ileal neobladder reconstruction in a young woman with HIC.

Oncological and functional outcomes of female reproductive organ-sparing radical cystectomy and ileal neobladder construction

OBJECTIVES

To examine the oncological and urinary functional outcomes of reproductive organ-sparing radical cystectomy (ROS-RC) and U-shaped ileal neobladder construction in females compared with male patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined 357 patients (281 male and 76 female) with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who were treated with RC plus U-shaped ileal neobladder construction between May 1996 and July 2021. All female patients were treated with ROS-RC. We compared disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), overall survival (OS), and urinary functional outcomes between male and female patients. We evaluated the effect of gender on DFS, CSS, and OS. Furthermore, urinary functional outcomes were evaluated in 140 males and 48 females using a pressure-flow study at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Female patients were considerably older than male patients at the time of radical cystectomy. No significant difference was noted in the tumor stage preoperatively. The multivariable Cox regression analysis with an inverse probability treatment weighted model revealed that the female gender was not significantly related to DFS, CSS, and OS. Moreover, urinary functions at 12 months were not markedly different between males and females, except for the capacity of the neobladder, detrusor pressure, and maximum urethral closure pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that female patients with ROS-RC and U-shaped ileal neobladder construction did not significantly correlate with worse oncological outcomes. The combination of ROS-RC and U-shaped ileal neobladder construction might attain adequate urinary function without sacrificing oncologic outcomes.

Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion in women: techniques, outcomes, and challenges-a narrative review

Background and Objective

Standard radical cystectomy (RC) in women includes the removal of the bladder, urethra, uterus with the adnexa, and the anterior vaginal wall, thereby severely affecting the urinary, sexual, and reproductive system. To limit these detrimental effects, organ-sparing, including nerve-sparing approaches, have been developed. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional outcomes are, indeed, becoming increasingly central to the shared decision-making with the patient. The objectives of this narrative review are: (I) to review the current status of RC in women, including the use of different urinary diversions (UDs); (II) to discuss organ-sparing approaches and their impact on oncological and functional outcomes in women; (III) to discuss the impact of RC on HRQOL and sexual function in women.

Methods

We performed a non-systematic literature review of the available publications in the PubMed database.

Key Content and Findings

Over the past years, gender differences in oncological and functional outcomes after RC have received increased attention. According to the currently available literature, organ-sparing approaches can be safely performed in well-selected women without negatively impacting oncological outcomes. The orthotopic neobladder is feasible and oncologically safe in well-selected and informed women. The choice of the UD should be based on comprehensive counseling and the patient's comorbidities and preferences. There still is a lack of data on sexual recovery after the different surgical approaches aimed to mitigate sexual dysfunction in women undergoing RC.

Conclusions

Pre-and post-operative counseling and support of females undergoing RC regarding their expectations and experiences in terms of quality of life and functional and sexual outcomes are currently insufficient. Well-designed studies in this field are necessary to further improve outcomes of women treated with RC with an overarching aim to close the gender gap in managing women with bladder cancer.

Detailed Description of the Karolinska Technique for Intracorporeal Studer Neobladder Reconstruction

In the last two decades, surgical techniques for intracorporeal urinary diversion have been developed with the aim of reducing surgical morbidity. Although increasing constantly, the numbers of urologists offering intracorporeal neobladder reconstruction remain limited due to the complex nature of the procedure. In this article, we aim to provide a detailed description of the surgical technique we currently use at our institution. This technique was initially developed and perfected at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden starting in 2003. It is a reproducible surgical approach with standardized and well-defined surgical steps. We give a detailed description of the surgical steps and provide tips and tricks to address specific situations and to increase efficiency. We also review the indications, the preoperative considerations, equipment necessary, postoperative considerations, and clinical outcomes for this procedure. Finally, we provide an accompanying didactic surgical video. We believe that this standardized approach can be learned and reproduced safely by motivated robotic surgeons.

Radical cystectomy and women's sexual health - can we do better?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Female sexual function after radical cystectomy is a crucial, but historically overlooked component of bladder cancer survivorship. This review focuses on recent studies, which have investigated pelvic health and sexual function after radical cystectomy. We discuss modifiable factors, which may contribute to decreased sexual function after radical cystectomy and techniques, which may lead to improved outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Sexual function is important to women and there is a significant desire (and unmet need) for more perioperative counseling and discussion regarding sexual function changes and quality of life impacts. Sexual function may be altered due to a combination of hormonal changes from ovarian removal, anatomic changes from vaginal alteration, and sensation changes due to damage to the neurovascular bundle. Techniques to preserve these structures have been developed.

SUMMARY

Sexual function is an important component of survivorship and increasing attention is being focused on this area. Long term studies with objective measures are needed for to compare various techniques and ensure oncologic safety. Ovarian preservation, anterior vaginal wall preservation, and vaginal estrogen replacement should be carefully considered for most patients.