OBJECTIVETo present a case of laparoscopic radical cystectomy and detenial sigmoid colon orthotopic neobladder reconstruction for bladder tumor in a child.

METHODSA 3-year-old boy with bladder rhabdomyosarcoma underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy and detenial sigmoid colon orthotopic neobladder reconstruction. The bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and cystectomy were performed laparoscopically, and removal of the mobilized specimens and urinary diversion operation were managed through enlarged abdomen incision. The urinary diversion procedure included construction of the detenial sigmoid pouch, bilateral stented antiflux implantation of the ureters in the pouch and orthotopic anastomosis of the neobladder with the urethra.

RESULTSThe total operative time was 6 h, and the laparoscopic procedure lasted for about 3.5 h. The intraoperative blood loss was 50 ml, and 200 ml concentrated red blood cell transfusion was used for the safety of the patient. Six dissected lymph nodes in each pelvic side and the surgical margins of the ureter and urethra were all free of tumor invasion. Bowel peristalsis recovered 3 days after the operation, and the pelvic drainage and the neobladder drainage tubes were removed on day 7 and 14, respectively. The urethral catheter and ureteral stents were removed 25 days after the operation. The daytime urine control and micturition recovered 1 week after the operation. The neobladder capacity was about 110 ml, with residual urine volume of 10 ml and peak flow rate of 12 ml/s after 5 months. No perioperative complications occurred such as water-electrolyte and metabolic acid-base balance disorders, urinary leakage, reflux or bowel obstruction.

CONCLUSIONLaparoscopic radical cystectomy is minimally invasive, reduces intraoperative blood loss and allows rapid postoperative recovery, and can be a promising approach to management of bladder rhabdomyosarcoma in children.