A retrospective study of 30 adults who underwent supravesical diversion for a variety of benign and malignant conditions was done with special attention to the fate of the residual bladder. Diversion was performed for diverse conditions, including radiation cystitis, cyclophosphamide cystitis, interstitial cystitis, incontinence and trauma. All groups experienced significant morbidity from the remaining in situ bladder. Over-all, 80% of the patients experienced at least 1 complication, chief among which were pyocystis (67%), hemorrhage (23%), severe pain (13%), and unremitting feelings of incomplete emptying and spasm (17%). Complications of sufficient severity to require rehospitalization occurred in 43% of the patients. Several patients required multiple rehospitalizations. Reoperation requiring general or regional anesthesia was necessary in 9 patients (30%) and included 4 cystectomies. Serious consideration should be given to performing primary cystectomy at the time of supravesical diversion in any patient in whom subsequent undiversion is not anticipated.