Detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (Atta pouch): Manometric and radiological studies in a sample of patients

OBJECTIVES: To assess whether the detubularised isolated ureterosigmoidostomy (DIUS) technique is safe for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 10 patients (mean age 61.8 years) with invasive bladder tumour, operated at the Alexandria University, Egypt. The diversion in all patients was through a DIUS, with ureteric reimplantation by an antirefluxing procedure, using an embedded-nipple technique. The patients were evaluated before and after surgery using radiological and manometric studies, and the results analysed statistically using Student’s t-test. RESULTS: Nine of the 10 patients could differentiate between urinary and stool sensation, and evacuate them separately. The mean (range) daytime frequency was 4.1 (3–5) and the mean night-time frequency was 0.5 (0–1). Before and after surgery, the respective mean resting anal pressure was 71 and 74 cmH(2)O (P = 0.004), the volume at first desire to defecate was 54 and 72 mL (P = 0.004) and the maximum tolerable volume was 140 and 160 mL (P < 0.001). The anorectal inhibitory reflex was lost in all patients after surgery. The mean (SD, range) basal pouch pressure was 5 (3.33, 0–10) cmH(2)O, and the end pressure was 13.2 (4.42, 9–20) cmH(2)O. CONCLUSION: Although the Mainz II pouch has a documented efficacy for urinary diversion after radical cystectomy, the modifications we applied to the DIUS improved that method of diversion, by separating urine and stool evacuation, maintaining continence, and with a low frequency and better protection of the upper urinary tracts, resulting in an improvement in the patients’ quality of life.