Orthotopic Ileal Bladder Substitution in Women: Factors Influencing Urinary Incontinence and Hypercontinence

BackgroundUrinary incontinence or the inability to void spontaneously after ileal orthotopic bladder substitution is a frequent finding in female patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate how hysterectomy and nerve sparing affect functional outcomes and whether these relate to pre- and postoperative urethral pressure profile (UPP) results.Design, setting, and participantsProspectively performed pre- and postoperative UPPs of 73 female patients who had undergone cystectomy and bladder substitution were correlated with postoperative voiding and continence status.Outcome measurements and statistical analysisOutcome analyses were performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, or two-group post hoc testing with the Bonferroni correction. Chi-square or Fisher exact tests were applied for the categorical data.Results and limitationsOf postoperatively continent or hypercontinent patients, 22 of 43 (51.2%) had the uterus preserved; of incontinent patients, only 4 of 30 (13.3%, p < 0.01) had the uterus preserved. Of postoperatively continent or hypercontinent patients, 27 of 43 patients (62.8%) had bilateral and 15 of 43 (34.9%) had unilateral attempted nerve sparing. In incontinent patients, 11 of 30 (36.7%) had bilateral and 16 of 30 (53.3%) had unilateral attempted nerve sparing (p = 0.02). When compared with postoperatively incontinent patients, postoperatively continent patients had a longer functional urethral length (median: 32 mm vs 24 mm; p < 0.001), a higher postoperative urethral closing pressure at rest (56 cm H2O vs 35 cm H2O; p < 0.001) as well as a higher preoperative urethral closing pressure at rest (74 cm H2O vs 47.5 cm H2O; p = 0.01). The main limitation was the limited number of patients.ConclusionsIn female patients undergoing radical cystectomy and bladder substitution, preservation of the uterus and attempted nerve sparing results in better functional outcomes. The preoperative UPPs correlate with postoperative voiding and continence status and may predict which patients are at a higher risk of functional failure after bladder substitution.Patient summaryIf preservation of the urethra's innervation is not possible during cystectomy, poor functional results with bladder substitutes are likely.