Incontinent ileo-vesicostomy urinary diversion in the treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction

Abstract

The combination of high spinal cord injury and neurovesical dysfunction can present formidable problems in urological management. The lack of upper extremity function often prevents intermittent catheterization and leads to alternative methods. A total of 23 patients underwent incontinent ileo-vesicostomy in an effort to gain a low pressure bladder and control of urinary soiling: 17 had been previously treated by catheter drainage, 9 had bladder and/or renal calculi, 9 experienced recurrent sepsis, and 7 had urethrocutaneous fistula and total urinary incontinence. Most patients had poorly compliant bladder dysfunction associated in 9 cases with poor urethral continence function. At a mean followup of 45 months (range 3 to 240 months) 22 of 23 patients had a low pressure reservoir with low pressure degrees of urine into a collection device. Complications included stomal stenosis in 3 patients and poor drainage across the ileovesical junction requiring revision in 2. One of these patients ultimately underwent ileal loop diversion. Upper tract function improved or remained stable in all patients.