Objective: National multicentre study based on specific self-administered quality of life questionnaires in patients with Bricker ileal conduit urinary diversion or orthotopic neobladder.
Material and method: Questionnaires were distributed by three associations (FSF, AFU, AFET) and comprised general questions and questions specific to the type of diversion. A disability score was also included.
Results: Between September 2003 and March 2004, out of a total of 5739 questionnaires, 909 were returned and 877 were analysed: 738 patients with Bricker ileal conduit and 139 with orthotopic neobladder. The two populations differed at the time of the study (Bricker: 69% of men with a mean age of 70 years, orthotopic neobladder: 95.7% of men with a mean age of 64 years). The mean interval since the operation was seven years. Ninety-four percent of patients with Bricker ileal conduit and 93% of patients with orthotopic neobladder were satisfied or very satisfied with the diversion, despite mean disability scores of 5.2+/-3.7 and 3.1+/-3.6, respectively. A correlation between this score and patient satisfaction (Wilcoxon: p<0.0001) was only observed for patients with a Bricker ileal conduit. This score was significantly related to the presence of urinary incontinence with the two types of diversion. Incontinence was frequent (16.1% with Bricker ileal conduit) and 78% of patients feared episodes of incontinence, mainly due to the appliance. Daytime incontinence was frequent for 18.1% of patients with orthotopic neobladder and 40% of patients used at least one protection per day. Out of the patients with neobladder, 82.6% experienced nocturnal incontinence, interfering with sleep in 31.9% of cases. Sexual disorders and altered bowel habit (40%) were very frequent. Stoma-therapy management was insufficient for Bricker ileal conduit and exceptional after bladder replacement.
Conclusion: Cystectomy with either ileal conduit urinary diversion or orthotopic neobladder alters many aspects of the patient's life, but patients finally accept and adapt to their new way of life.