Oncological and functional outcomes of radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder replacement in women

Objective: To report oncological and functional results in women undergoing radical cystectomy and orthotopic bladder replacement. Materials and Methods: The charts of all women undergoing bladder replacement after radical cystectomy at UCSF through April 2008 were reviewed. Pathologic characteristics, survival (overall and disease-specific), and urinary functional outcomes are reported. Survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to determine factors associated with incontinence, retention, and mortality. Results: Fifty-six women with a mean follow-up of 35 months were analyzed. The cancer recurrence rate was 32%. Kaplan-Meier estimated 5-year recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival were 54%, 57%, and 47%, respectively. Pathologic lymph node status (HR 14.2, P <.001) and age at diagnosis (HR 1.7, P = .04) were the only clinical or pathologic characteristics significantly associated with survival. The overall continence rate (no pads) was 57%. Hypercontinence occurred in 24% of patients. Conclusions: With careful patient selection and usage of urethral frozen section, rates of local recurrence are low. Overall rates of incontinence (43%) and hypercontinence (24%) are similar to those previously reported. When pathologically organ-confined, women have an excellent disease-specific survival. Orthotopic bladder replacement is a safe and effective form of urinary diversion after radical cystectomy in women.