Is continent diversion using the Mitrofanoff principle a viable long-term option for adults requiring bladder replacement?

Objective: To audit the long-term outcome of patients with Mitrofanoff continent urinary diversion (MUD) to inform counselling of future patients concerning the procedure.

Patients And Methods: All patients who underwent MUD between 1990 and 2003 were identified. Continence, urinary tract infection (UTI), calculus formation and renal function were assessed by chart review and interviews.

Results: Of the 29 patients identified 12 were women and 17 men with a mean (range) age of 48 (18-79) years at operation. The median (range) follow-up was 126 (5-190) months. On questioning, 25 of 28 (89%) patients stated that they were continent. There was more than one confirmed UTI per year in two patients. Half of the patients had at least two UTIs within the follow-up period but with no deterioration in renal function. Calculi developed in eight (29%) patients; four with bladder, three with renal and one with both renal and bladder calculi. Stomal stenosis developed in 15 (54%) patients requiring intervention at a mean (range) rate of 0.4 (0.1-2.4) episodes per year and nine ultimately required stomal reconstruction. Five (18%) patients required conversion to ileal conduit, two of these for persistent incontinence and three for recurrent stomal complications, at a mean (range) of 82 (9-140) months.

Conclusions: MUD is effective in offering continence with no major deterioration of renal function; however, this needs to be balanced against the need for subsequent additional interventions for stomal stenosis, stone formation and UTI on an individual basis.