Enhanced continent mechanism of tapered ileum by extramural support from the pouch and abdominal walls: A preliminary report of a clinical study

Purpose: We constructed a reliable continent tube that is easy to catheterize and surgically simple. Materials and Methods: Eight patients with bladder cancer underwent a procedure in which ileal segment was tapered as an efferent tube, of which a part was placed between the back surface of the rectus muscle and the ileal pouch wall. The internal orifice of the tapered ileum was anastomosed to the ileal pouch and its external orifice was anastomosed to the umbilicus. Urodynamic and radiological studies were done postoperatively in 7 cases. Results: The stoma was easily catheterized with a 16Fr catheter in all cases. One patient died of heart disease 55 days postoperatively, while 6 of the remaining 7 were completely continent day and night. Urodynamic study of the efferent tubes showed that maximum close pressure with the pouch full was significantly higher than with the pouch empty (p <0.001). Retrograde radiography of the efferent tubes demonstrated perfect canalization without stenosis. Conclusions: This study indicates that the continent mechanism of tapered ileum may be greatly enhanced by fixing it between the abdominal and pouch walls. This maneuver also provides easy catheterization and surgical simplicity.