Fate of the leftover bladder after supravesical urinary diversion for benign disease.

PURPOSE: We studied the fate of the leftover bladder in patients who underwent supravesical urinary diversion without cystectomy for benign pathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was performed in 9 males and 15 females with a median age of 59 years in whom supravesical urinary diversion was performed for various benign conditions from 1996 to 2004. These conditions were incontinence, acontractile bladder, radiation and/or hemorrhagic cystitis, and neuropathic bladder. Median followup was 48 months.

RESULTS: Of the patients 13 (54%) experienced problems with the retained bladder, 2 (8%) presented with urethral bleeding, which resolved by conservative means, and 11 (46%) had infective complications, which resolved with expectant treatment in 3 (12%). However, 8 patients (33%) had frank pyocystis and 3 (12%) were treated with the Spence procedure, which alleviated symptoms in only 1. Six patients (25%) required cystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing supravesical urinary diversion for benign disease in whom the bladder remains in situ the risks of complications related to the defunctionalized bladder are more than 50% and 25% of patients subsequently need cystectomy. These patients should be offered primary cystectomy at urinary diversion.