Orthotopic bladder replacement in women: Focus on functional results of a retrospective, single-centre study

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.

Oncological and functional outcome of robotic-assisted radical cystectomy with total intracorporeal stentless J-pouch neobladder reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) with neobladder reconstruction has gained popularity in recent years.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 17 consecutive patients who underwent RARC with totally intracorporeal J-pouch neobladder reconstruction without ureteral stent by a single experienced surgeon to evaluate perioperative, oncological and functional outcomes.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 32.8 months (range: 17.4-59.0 months), and the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 88.2%. Five out of 12 patients were totally continent, and none required more than one pad per day. The overall complication rate was 41.2%, and hydronephrosis was the most common adverse event. The renal function remained stable, and no long-term renal function impairment was detected.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that RARC with totally intracorporeal J-pouch neobladder reconstruction without ureteral stent is a safe and feasible option for the treatment of muscle-invasive bladder cancer, with good oncological and functional outcomes.

Prognostic value of urinary cytology for detecting urothelial carcinoma recurrence after radical cystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Urethral or upper urinary tract (UUT) recurrence of urothelial carcinoma (UC) after radical cystectomy (RC) are rare (4-6%), and their diagnosis usually occurs within the first two years. Although it is known that its early detection offers benefit in terms of survival, currently there are no clear recommendations for the detection of recurrence in the remnant urothelium (RU). Our aim is to determine the diagnostic value of urinary cytology for the detection of recurrences in the RU and to estimate its impact as an early diagnostic method on survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent RC for urothelial carcinoma between 2008-2016, with a follow-up of at least 24 months.

RESULTS

The study included 142 patients. In a median follow-up of 68.5 months, nine patients (6.3%) presented recurrences in the RU (urethra: four, UUT: four, synchronous: one). The sensitivity and specificity of urinary cytology for the diagnosis of UUT recurrences were 20% and 96%, respectively. No significant differences were found between overall survival and cancer-specific survival among patients according to the urinary cytology results.

CONCLUSION

Recurrences in the RU after RC are infrequent; our study has shown that urinary cytology offers a low sensitivity for their diagnoses. For these reasons, we do not consider that urinary cytology provides useful information for surveillance of these patients.

Prognostic value of urinary cytology for detecting urothelial carcinoma recurrence after radical cystectomy

INTRODUCTION

Urethral or upper urinary tract (UUT) recurrence of urothelial carcinoma (UC) after radical cystectomy (RC) are rare (4-6%), and their diagnosis usually occurs within the first two years. Although it is known that its early detection offers benefit in terms of survival, currently there are no clear recommendations for the detection of recurrence in the remnant urothelium (RU). Our aim is to determine the diagnostic value of urinary cytology for the detection of recurrences in the RU and to estimate its impact as an early diagnostic method on survival.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective review of patients who underwent RC for urothelial carcinoma between 2008-2016, with a follow-up of at least 24 months.

RESULTS

The study included 142 patients. In a median follow-up of 68.5 months, nine patients (6.3%) presented recurrences in the RU (urethra: four, UUT: four, synchronous: one). The sensitivity and specificity of urinary cytology for the diagnosis of UUT recurrences were 20% and 96%, respectively. No significant differences were found between overall survival and cancer-specific survival among patients according to the urinary cytology results.

CONCLUSION

Recurrences in the RU after RC are infrequent; our study has shown that urinary cytology offers a low sensitivity for their diagnoses. For these reasons, we do not consider that urinary cytology provides useful information for surveillance of these patients.

Gender-related Outcome in Bladder Cancer Patients undergoing Radical Cystectomy

Background: The impact of gender on oncological outcome after radical cystectomy (RC) is not fully understood yet. The aim of the study was to evaluate gender-related differences in histopathological parameters and prognosis of patients with bladder cancer undergoing RC.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a 10-year single-center cystectomy database was performed. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox-regression analyses with sex-specific interactions were performed to determine the impact of gender on recurrence-free survival (RFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and overall survival (OS), in addition to established clinicopathological factors.

Results: 259 patients (212 [81.8%] men and 47 [18.2%] women) were enrolled. Although women had a greater propensity for extravesical (≥pT3) disease (53.2% vs. 33.9%, p=0.03) and heterotopic urinary diversion (72.3% vs. 49.5%, p=0.006), gender did not independently predict RFS, CSS or OS on multivariate analysis. Extravesical tumor disease was the sole independent predictor concerning RFS (hazard ratio [HR]=4.70; p<0.001), CCS (HR=2.77; p=0.013), and OS (HR=1.93; p=0.041). Orthotopic urinary diversion (HR=0.36; p=0.002) had an independent effect only on RFS. Rates of 5-year RFS (73.7% vs. 48.3%; p=0.001), CSS (72.5% vs. 44.9%; p<0.001) and OS (62.6% vs. 37.8%; p<0.001) were higher in orthotopic versus heterotopic diversions.

Conclusion: In our series, women presented with more advanced tumors and higher rates of heterotopic urinary diversions, but their survival outcome was not significantly inferior to that of men. Extravesical disease was independently related to poorer survival after RC.

Survival up to 5-15 years in young women following genital sparing radical cystectomy and neobladder: oncological outcome and quality of life. Single-surgeon and single-institution experience

Introduction

This is an observational retrospective study utilising long term patient follow–up for 15 years to determine the survival and quality of life in women (age range 20–54 years) after having been treated for carcinoma of the bladder by radical cystectomy with preservation of genital organs.

Material and methods

The study included 13 female patients with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder treated with genital sparing radical cystectomy during the period of 1995 until 2006. They had orthotopic ileal neobladder. Follow–up included recurrence–free survival, metastases–free survival, overall survival, continence, and sexual function.

Results

Genital sparing cystectomy was done in 13 women. Seven women were between the ages of 20–37, and 6 women were aged 38–54. Overall survival of 10–15 years was 61.53%, survival from 5 to 9 years was 38.46%. The procedure was done in 9 women with a muscle–invasive tumor of stage T2– T3a. Non–muscle invasive T1 tumor was present in four patients. Quality of life was assessed by continence, which was good in 10/13 patients. Three women needed CIC. Sexual function was tested by female sexual function index >20–30 and was scored at 84.61%.

Conclusions

The study provides evidence of safety and efficacy of radical cystectomy with sparing of genital organs in women aged 20 to 54 with urothelial carcinoma of the bladder. Oncological outcome for 5–15 years was good; continence and sexual function were good. This procedure should be considered when surgical approach appears to be feasible. The limitation of our findings is the small sample size of this case series.