BACKGROUNDBladder carcinoma is the most common malignant urological tumor in China. We present our preliminary experience and results of laparoscopic radical cystectomy (LRC) with orthotopic ileal neobladder in female patients with bladder carcinoma.

METHODSFrom February 2003 to February 2008, 14 female patients with bladder carcinoma underwent LRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder. Nine of these patients underwent hysterectomy and ovariectomy, and the other 5 had preservation of the uterus and ovarian appendage. Standard bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was followed by radical cystectomy that was completed laparoscopically with hysterectomy and ovariectomy when needed. The tumor was removed by a 4 - 5 cm lower midline abdominal incision, followed by the construction of ileal neobladder and the extracorporeal anastomosis of ureter-neobladder. The neobladder was anastomosed to the urethral stump under a laparoscope.

RESULTSThe mean operative time and blood loss in the 14 patients were 350.2 minutes and 349.8 ml, respectively. Postoperative complications included uretero-pouch anastomotic stricture in 1 patient and pouch-vaginal fistula in 1 patient. Follow-up time of all patients ranged from 3 to 60 months, and 12 patients were followed up for more than 6 months and achieved micturition in half a year. One patient had occasional day-time urinary incontinence and 2 had night-time incontinence. Two patients who had undergone hysterectomy and ovariectomy had voiding difficulties after one year, which was treated by intermittent self-catheterization. The mean volume of the neobladder and the residual urine were 333.6 ml and 31.2 ml, respectively. Surgical margins were tumor free for all patients. One patient had bone metastasis and died 11 months after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSLRC with orthotopic ileal neobladder in female patients is a technically feasible, safe and mini-invasive procedure with a low morbidity and acceptable neobladder function. Long-term follow-up is required to confirm the neobladder function and oncological outcomes.