Surgical technique of uretero-ileal anastomosis in patients with bilateral duplex ureters undergoing radical cystectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion: initial experience.

Background: We present a simple technique for construction of wide ureteral plate, consisting of four ureters, incorporated in ureteroileal anastomosis of ileal conduit urinary diversion.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of six cases of ureteral duplication (five bilateral and one unilateral) and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, treated with radical cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion, at our institution from 2015 to 2020. Briefly, our technique includes construction of wide ureteral plate, consisting of four ureters from two separate ureteral units, after previous construction of right and left ureteral plates for each unit, according to the standard Wallace technique. Additionally, during construction of definite ureteral anastomotic plate, we used a modified Wallace I technique consisted of eversion of posteromedial ureteral walls of both ureteral units, with muco-mucosal running suture.

Results: Four males and two females underwent radical cystectomy with ileal conduit for muscle invasive bladder cancer. A total of 12 complications (CDC I-III) were registered in 4/6 (66.6%) patients, whereby ten of them (83.3%) occurred within 90 days post-surgery. High-grade (CDC III) complications were registered in 33.3% of patients. Within the first three months post-surgery, hydronephrosis and high-grade vesicoureteral reflux were associated with pyelonephritis and observed in two patients (33.3%), while uretero-intestinal anastomotic stricture or leakage were not detected during follow-up in any patients.

Conclusion: Modified Wallace uretero-ileal anastomosis after radical cystectomy and ileal conduit urinary diversion is functionally and cosmetically effective way to treat patients with bilateral duplex ureters harbouring muscle invasive bladder cancer.