Functional outcome of robotic-assisted intracorporeal versus extracorporeal neobladder following radical cystectomy: Initial experience

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, the seventh most commonly diagnosed cancer in the male population is Bladder cancer (BC), while it drops to eleventh when both genders are considered. Radical cystectomy is the surgical treatment of choice for patients with all muscle-invasive and some nonmuscle invasive BCs. An orthotopic continent diversion (neobladder) is preferred whenever possible to achieve a better postoperative quality of life. We attempt to study the functional outcomes of intracorporeal neobladder (ICNB) versus extracorporeal neobladder (ECNB) (ICNB vs. ECNB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients who underwent robot-assisted radical cystectomy with neobladder in our institute during the period of March 2016–March 2018 were included in the study. An orthotopic neobladder (Studer method) was created in all our patients. Our main outcomes of interest were peak flow rates, residual urine, attainment of continence, and Pdet at qmax of the neobladder. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in our study group was 54 ± 6 years. The mean body mass index was 23 ± 2 kg/m(2). The mean follow-up period was 24 ± 5 months. Twenty patients underwent ICNB and 20 patients underwent ECNB. The urodynamic assessment was done 1-year postprocedure. The same parameters applied to an intact bladder are used, and results analyzed by comparing it with other studies. Common in the initial postoperative period was incontinence which reduced substantially over time. After 1-year, 75% of patients did not require pads in the daytime, and a meager, <10% used more than one pad per day. There was no difference in outcome between both the groups, which was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Both ICNB and ECNB groups achieved urodynamically proven values of adequate bladder capacity and compliance. Daytime continence was excellent, and night time continence was good in both groups. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between both the groups as regards to urodynamic parameters. However, continence is attained little earlier in the ICNB group. There is no perceived superiority of ICNB over ECNB.