Objective: To assess the results of the use of the ileal neobladder in patients with previous pelvic irradiation.
Methods: Between January 1986 and July 2008, 1,570 radical cystectomies and 1,002 ileal neobladders were performed at a single institution. From this series, 94 patients (6%) with prior pelvic irradiation were retrospectively identified. In 25 of these irradiated patients, an ileal neobladder was done. All complications within 90 days of surgery were defined and graded using a five-grade modification of the original Clavien system and stratified into 11 categories. Functional outcome data and late complications were reported.
Results: Seventy-six percent of the neobladder patients versus 52% of the non-neobladder patients developed complications occurring within 90 days of surgery. However, grade 3-5 complications were less frequent in the neobladder group. Unusual and serious late complications have been observed. Nineteen out of 25 neobladder patients enjoy perfect night and day time continence. Three out of seven female and 1/18 male patients suffer from treatment refractory severe stress incontinence. One male and one female patients are primarily hypercontinent.
Conclusions: Salvage surgery (cystoprostatectomy, anterior exenteration) followed by orthotopic lower urinary tract reconstruction can be a safe, effective procedure that can provide a well functioning lower urinary tract in properly selected patients with defunctionalized bladder, tumor recurrence or de novo bladder cancer after definitive radiation therapy. Prerequisits for the neobladder as procedure of choice are good renal function, perfect preoperative continence, no recurrent gastrointestinal or gynecologic tumor, no fistula formation, and no severe damage of the small bowel.