Treatment of Pelvic Floor Disorders Following Neobladder

Functional Outcomes of Orthotopic Neobladder in Women

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review paper summarizes the available literature on the evolution of surgical approach to radical cystectomy in female bladder cancer patients and its impact on functional outcomes in orthotopic neobladder.

RECENT FINDINGS

Traditionally, radical cystectomy in female bladder cancer patients has been maximally extirpative with pelvic exenteration. Recently, new techniques which include pelvic organ-sparing, nerve-sparing and vaginal-sparing have demonstrated improved rates of urinary incontinence and retention. Additional techniques include prophylactic apical suspension which reduces the likelihood of pelvic organ prolapse, a risk factor for voiding dysfunction in the setting of orthotopic neobladder. Surgical management of bladder cancer in female patients has evolved to include surgical approaches which center quality of life and functional outcomes that are unique to female patients who have undergone radical cystectomy with ileal neobladder and can be optimized based on considerations regarding an approach that limits pelvic floor and pelvic nerve disruption.

Radical cystectomy in the female patient: The pelvic floor, sexual function, and patient/provider education

Radical cystectomy in women results in numerous deleterious anatomic impacts to the pelvic floor that can result in sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse, and other disorders of pelvic floor function. A comprehensive understanding of this relationship and the quality-of-life impacts of radical cystectomy in women is important. This narrative review provides an overview of female pelvic floor disorders in the setting of radical cystectomy, with focus on present understanding of related anatomy, incidence, and prevention strategies, as well as the importance of both provider and patient education.

Evaluation of sexual function and vaginal prolapse after radical cystectomy in women: a study to explore an under-evaluated problem

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The objective was to evaluate sexual function, vaginal prolapse, and quality of life (QoL) in women after radical cystectomy (RC) using validated questionnaires and pelvic organ prolapse quantification (POP-Q) measurement.

METHODS

Female bladder cancer patients who underwent RC at our tertiary care center were included (January 2008 to March 2022). Patients received three validated questionnaires (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Vaginal Symptoms [ICIQ-VS] Part A, Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire IUGA revised [PISQ], European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire [EORTC] C30/BLM30). Patients who consented were examined with vaginal POP-Q measurement.

RESULTS

Out of 322 patients, 193 were still alive, 54 patients were lost to follow-up, and 43 were excluded, resulting in 96 patients who received the questionnaire. Finally, 35 patients were included, of whom 17 patients consented to vaginal examination. Complaints due to vaginal symptoms were low (ICIQ-VS 6.17 + 5.37). Sexual activity was reported by 12 patients (34.3%); 23 patients (65.71%) were not sexually active. No apical prolapse was found in POP-Q measurement; 6 patients (35.3%) had anterior, and 14 patients (82.4%) posterior prolapse; the highest prolapse stage was 2. No significant differences were found regarding POP stages, sexual function, and QoL (all p > 0.05) when comparing continent and incontinent urinary diversions. Comparing the vaginal approach (no sparing vs sparing), significant differences were found in only two PISQ subscales (significantly higher scores after vagina sparing, p = 0.01 and p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The type of urinary diversion, POP-Q stages, and tumor stages did not show significant differences regarding sexual function, QoL, and prolapse complaints in women after RC, whereas a vagina- sparing approach showed significant differences only in two subscales without clinical relevance.

Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse After Radical Cystectomy

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article explores the anatomy, management options, and outcomes of pelvic organ prolapse with a female cystectomy patient.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is a lack of data on surgical management outcomes for prolapse following radical cystectomy. However, most case series from tertiary referral centers show reasonable results irrespective of route of repair. As expected, the surgical planes and the reorientation of the bowel loop for urinary diversion makes any pelvic reconstruction a potential hazard and requires a high level of expertise and counseling to the patient in regard to the management of expectations. Pelvic organ prolapse following radical cystectomy is uncommon but presents a significant challenge to the reconstructive surgeon.

Neobladder-Vaginal Fistula: Surgical Management Techniques

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To describe the complexities of diagnosis and management of neobladder-vaginal fistula (NVF) following orthotopic urinary diversion in women.

RECENT FINDINGS

Multiple recent single-institution series confirm the variability of outcomes for NVF repairs and caution regarding comorbid stress urinary incontinence which may necessitate further interventions including conversion to alternate diversions. Although both abdominal and transvaginal approaches have been advocated for surgical management of NVF, contemporary series from reconstructive surgeons favor a vaginal approach to decrease overall operative morbidity. Patients should be carefully counseled regarding neobladder and sphincter function following fistula repair along with the risks of secondary urinary diversion.

Influence of Simple and Radical Cystectomy on Sexual Function and Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Female Patients: A Scoping Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION

Despite the high risk for sexual dysfunction and pelvic organ prolapse after cystectomy and urinary diversion, a paucity of data and attention to these issues exists in women. This is in stark contrast to the attention paid to male sexual function undergoing similar urologic procedures. As survivorship from bladder cancer improves, appropriate assessment and treatment of these quality of life conditions are needed. Whereas consideration of surgical approach and technique on male outcomes is widespread, female outcomes are lacking in comparison.

AIM

This scoping review evaluates sexual function and postoperative vaginal support in women undergoing cystectomy for benign and malignant diseases of the bladder.

METHODS

This article reviews current evidence regarding sexual function and pelvic organ prolapse in women undergoing cystectomy and the potential impact of choice of urinary diversion on these outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

We conducted a systematic literature review of sexual dysfunction and pelvic organ prolapse after cystectomy and urinary diversion.

RESULTS

73 relevant articles were reviewed regarding sexual dysfunction and pelvic organ prolapse after cystectomy. This review discusses key quality-of-life outcomes, the role of surgical approach, the importance of evaluation and counseling, and future directions in the field.

CONCLUSION

Our internal review highlights the urgent need to raise awareness among providers regarding the adverse impact of cystectomy on these important quality-of-life issues. Voigt M, Hemal K, Matthews C. Influence of Simple and Radical Cystectomy on Sexual Function and Pelvic Organ Prolapse in Female Patients: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:408-415.

Genital-Sparing Cystectomy versus Standard Urethral-Sparing Cystectomy Followed with Orthotopic Neobladder in Women with Bladder Cancer: Incidence and Causes of Hypercontinence with an Ultrastructure Study of Urethral Smooth Muscles

BACKGROUND:

Bladder cancer in women is an indication for radical cystectomy (RC) when the tumour is confined muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) of T2 N0M0, or high risk progressive non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). Radical cystectomy is either genital-sparing cystectomy (GSC) or standard urethra-sparing cystectomy (USC) that is followed with orthotopic ileal neobladder (ONB). Post-operative chronic retention “Hypercontinence” had been reported in different series following URS or GSC and ONB. In long-term follow-up, we evaluated the functional outcome of women who developed hypercontinence after USC or GSC and ONB.

AIM:

An ultrastructure study of female urethral smooth muscle was done to elucidate the underlying causes of hypercontinence.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

Retrospective study was conducted on 71 women who underwent RC and ONB, 45women had undergone USC, and 26 women had GSC, follow-up ranged from 5 to 15 years. Ultrastructure studies were done on 5 urethral biopsy specimens from 5 women who had hypercontinence, and 4 biopsies were from a normal control.

RESULTS:

Follow-up showed that women who had undergone USC and ONB, 28.88% developed hypercontinence, where in the series of GSC and ONB three women out of 26 developed hypercontinence (7.80%). Three women who had hypercontinence following USC and ONB, they developed stones in the ileal pouch. Ultrastructure study of urethral smooth muscles in women who had hypercontinence showed organized collagen fibrils, absent myelin sheath, and non-detected lymphatic vessels. Normal urethra showed collagen fibrils within the interstitial matrix, preserved myelin sheath of nerve fibres, the presence of lymphatic vessels in the matrix.

CONCLUSION:

The present study shoes that GSC with ONB leads to the minimal incidence of hypercontinence (7.80%), while standard USC lead to higher incidence (28.88%). Ultrastructure changes of the female urethra who had hypercontinence were fibrotic changes, loss of myelin sheath and minimal vascularity, their findings explains the underlying cause of hypercontinence and support the technique of GSC rather than the standard USC.