Objectives: To compare the complications occurring during the first year of follow-up after radical cystectomy in two groups, one with and one without a history of pelvic radiation. Radical cystectomy and urinary diversion is the treatment of choice for invasive bladder cancer.
Methods: One hundred ninety-four cystectomies were performed between January 1995 and June 2000 by a single surgeon. Twenty-three patients were identified with a history of external beam radiotherapy to the pelvis (EBRT group), and 23 additional patients without a history of pelvic radiation were randomly selected to serve as the control group.
Results: Although the overall risk of having a complication was not statistically different in the EBRT group (48%) than in the control group (30%; P = 0.183), complications directly related to surgery were higher in the EBRT group than in the control group (48% versus 26%; P = 0.045). The patients in the EBRT group were more likely to require an invasive procedure (39% versus 9%; P = 0.018). In addition, 5 (22%) of 23 patients in the EBRT group had a symptomatic fluid collection, which was diagnosed as a urine leak (n = 2) or an abdominal abscess (n = 3). In contrast, no patient in the control group developed a symptomatic fluid collection.
Conclusions: Cystectomy after pelvic radiation is associated with acceptable morbidity; however, compared with cystectomy performed in a nonirradiated pelvis, the risk of complications that will require invasive intervention is increased. A history of prior pelvic radiation significantly increases the risk of a symptomatic fluid collection.