Orthotopic neo- bladder in women.

INTRODUCTION: Radical cystectomy is the most effective treatment madality for high grade urinary bladder carcinoma and orthotopic reconstruction is the better urinary diversion modality also in women.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 2002 to 2007 we performed 14 radical cystectomies followed by orthotopic reconstruction in women aged between 47 and 68 years (mean age 56) affected by urinary bladder carcinoma. Our reconstructive technique requires the preparation of two strips of the recti muscles fascia, the sectioning of the bladder neck and, when the uterus is present, hysteroannessiectomy and cystectomy en block leaving intact the lateral and inferior vaginal walls. The pelvic floor is stabilized by a colposacropexis with a prosthesis and placing an omental flap over the prosthesis. The orthotopic reconstruction is achieved via a neobladder according to the Padovana technique. The ureters are anastomized to the neobladder and splinted with single J stents.

RESULTS: The pathological examination demonstrated in all patients the presence of a high grade carcinoma (G3): more specifically 4 patients had a full thickness intramural infiltration (T2), 2 patients had involvment of the perivescical fat (T3) ad 8 patients were in T1 stage. Lymphnodes were negative for tumour (NO). In 8 patients blood transfusions were necessary to treat post surgical anemia. No significant intra-, peri- or post operative complications were noted. The mean follow-up was 45 months: a patient died for diffuse metastatic disease after 11 months. The remaining patients are still alive and report normal lifestyle: 10 with normal micturition and 4 with urinary retention treated with intermittent self-catetherization. Two patients report nocturnal incontinence treated with hourly micturition and one pad. The five patients who had normal preoperative sexual intercourse resumed a normal sexual activity.

DISCUSSION: The possibility to orthotopically recontruct the female urinary bladder has been established long time after the introduction of orthotopic neobladder in males, when became obvious that bladder reconstruction had to be done in conjunction with the reconstruction of the pelvic floor, in order to assure a satisfactory function at the new bladder. To avoid a posterior slippage of the vaginal stump we inserted the vaginal stump into a prolene tube which was then anchored posteriorly to the sacral periostium. We covered the prolene net with a flap of omentum pedicled down from the transverse colon and brought into the pelvis through the right colic space. This solid, stable and well protected support was able to accept the new bladder. We use the Padovana technique to facilitate the anastomosis of the bladder neck to the urethra. In the patients affected by urethral ipermotility we shaped a sub urethral sling using the recti muscles fascia pedicled by the pyramidal muscles. With this modality of reconstruction female pelvic anatomy is preserved as demonstrated by recovery of sexual activity.