The double-barrel wet colostomy: An alternative for urinary diversion after pelvic exenteration

Double-Barrel Urocolostomy After Pelvic Exenteration: Short-Term Morbidity and Patient-Reported Quality of Life

BACKGROUND

Total pelvic exenteration is a radical surgical procedure for advanced pelvic malignancies. Traditionally, an ileal conduit is created on the right abdominal wall for urinary diversion and an end-colostomy on the left abdominal wall for fecal diversion. However, this approach is associated with increased morbidity and a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). A unilateral double-barrel urocolostomy (DBUC) offers an alternative using the sigmoid colon for urinary drainage. This can potentially reduce complications, improve QoL, and preserve the right vertical rectus abdominis muscle (VRAM) flap for pelvic reconstruction. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the DBUC on 90-day morbidity and QoL of patients undergoing pelvic exenteration for locally advanced colorectal and anal cancer.

METHODS

Data were prospectively collected from all patients who underwent pelvic exenteration with DBUC reconstruction for colorectal and anal cancer at our tertiary care center between January 2020 and May 2023.

RESULTS

This study enrolled 20 patients. Postoperative complications were observed in 19 patients, including seven major complications. Two complications were directly attributable to the DBUC. Patients reported favorable QoL outcomes in terms of global health, functional ability, and symptom management, with expected limitations in physical performance due to extensive abdominal surgery. At 1 year after surgery, all the patients preferred the DBUC over separate bilateral ostomies.

CONCLUSION

The DBUC procedure has demonstrated safety and efficacy in terms of short-term morbidity and favorable patient-reported QoL, making it an attractive alternative to dual ostomies for patients undergoing pelvic exenteration, particularly when VRAM reconstruction is considered.

Trends and current aspects of reconstructive surgery for gynecological cancers

Gynecologic cancers can lead to gynecologic tract destruction with extension into both the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. Recurrent disease can also affect the surrounding bony pelvis and pelvic musculature. As opposed to advanced ovarian cancer, where cytoreduction is the goal, in these scenarios, an oncologic approach to achieve negative margins is critical for benefit. Surgeries aimed at achieving a R0 resection in gynecologic oncology can have a significant impact on pelvic anatomy, and require reconstruction. Overall, it appears that these types of radical surgery are less frequently performed; however, when required, multidisciplinary teams at high-volume centers can potentially improve short-term morbidity. There are few data to examine the long-term, quality-of-life outcomes after reconstruction following oncologic resection in advanced and recurrent gynecologic cancers. In this review we outline considerations and approaches for reconstruction after surgery for gynecologic cancers. We also discuss areas of innovation, including minimally invasive surgery and the use of 3D surgical anatomy models for improved surgical planning.In the era of 'less is more', pelvic exenteration in gynecologic oncology is still indicated when there are no other curative-intent alternatives in persistent or recurrent gynecological malignancies confined to the pelvis or with otherwise unmanageable symptoms from fistula or radiation necrosis. Pelvic exenteration is one of the most destructive procedures performed on an elective basis, which inevitably carries a significant psychologic, sexual, physical, and emotional burden for the patient and caregivers. Such complex ultraradical surgery, which requires removal of the vagina, vulva, urinary tract, and/or gastrointestinal tract, subsequently needs creative and complex reconstructive procedures. The additional removal of sidewall or perineal structures, like pelvic floor muscles/vulva, or portions of the musculoskeletal pelvis, and the inclusion of intra-operative radiation further complicates reconstruction. This review paper will focus on the reconstruction aspects following pelvic exenteration, including options for urinary tract restoration, reconstruction of the vulva and vagina, as well as how to fill large empty spaces in the pelvis. While the predominant gastrointestinal outcome after exenteration in gynecologic oncology is an end colostomy, we also present some novel new options for gastrointestinal tract reconstruction at the end.