Objective: To analyze the effects, complication, and outcome of laparoscopic radical cystectomy.
Methods: 108 patients with bladder cancer, 96 males and 12 females, aged 61 (36 - 81) underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy with orthotopic ileal neobladder. Five-port transperitoneal approach was applied. The surgical procedure included standard laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy, radical resection of bladder, extracorporeal formation of ileal pouch; extracorporeal implantation of ureters; and laparoscopic urethra-neobladder anastomosis. Erectile nerve sparing procedure was performed for 26 cases. The patients were followed up for 1 - 53 months.
Results: The median operation time was 330 min, and the median blood loss was 320 ml. Conversion to open surgery was not necessary in any of the patients. There was no peri-operative mortality. The complication rate was 18.5% (20/108). Surgical margins were tumor free for all cases. The day-time and night-time continence rates were 90.7% and 82.6% respectively in 6 months postoperatively. 10 of the 26 patients undergoing erectile nerve-sparing procedure had potency for intercourse. Follow-up showed 5 cases with local recurrence, 1 case with trocar site seeding and 6 cases with distant metastasis, 8 of the patients died of tumor-related disease and 3 died of diseases not related to tumor.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy with extracorporeal formation of orthotopic ileal neobladder is a feasible technique with low morbidity and acceptable neobladder function.