Source
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Pouchograms are routinely performed before catheter removal after continent urinary diversion at our institution. Our aim was to determine the necessity of pouchograms based on a review of our experience.
METHODS:
A retrospective review of patient records and radiographic studies was done for patients undergoing radical cystectomy and continent urinary diversions between 1991 and 2001.
RESULTS:
Seventy-two patients underwent continent urinary diversion (orthotopic, n = 59; cutaneous, n = 13) during the study period. All underwent pouchogram postoperatively (median 22 days; range 20 to 27). Six patients (8.3%) had a demonstrable radiographic leak; in 5 of the 6 patients, the urine leak was suspected on clinical grounds. Three patients (4.7%) developed urosepsis after pouchogram.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings indicate that routine pouchograms before pouch activation after continent urinary diversion may not be necessary.