Ileal Conduit Versus Continent Urinary Diversion in Radical Cystectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study of 30-day Complications, Readmissions, and Mortality.

OBJECTIVE

To quantify the short-term burden associated with continent diversion relative to ileal conduit creation.

METHODS

Bladder cancer patients who underwent radical cystectomy in 2019 and 2020 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Improvement Program database using current procedural terminology codes and pathology reports. Patients were grouped by urinary diversion performed: ileal conduit versus continent diversion (neobladder or cutaneous reservoir). Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between type of urinary diversion and 30-day outcomes, including postoperative complications, all-cause readmissions, and mortality, adjusting for baseline differences.

RESULTS

Of 4,755 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, 677 underwent continent diversion (14.2%). These patients were significantly younger (median 62 vs 71 years, P <.01) and less likely to have diabetes (13.6% vs 20.1%, P <.01), COPD (3.7% vs 7.1%, P<0.01), and prior pelvic radiation (5.5% vs 13.1%, P <.01). A greater proportion of continent diversion patients experienced a postoperative complication (56.0% vs 48.9%, P <.01) and all-cause readmission (30.3% vs 20.4%, P <.0). After adjustment, continent diversion patients had 1.4 (95% CI: 1.1-1.7) and 1.7 (95% CI: 1.4-2.1) times the odds of experiencing a postoperative complication or all-cause readmission, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in mortality (OR 1.2, 95% CI: 0.5-2.9).

CONCLUSION

Compared to ileal conduit creation, continent urinary diversion is associated with increased odds of postoperative complications and readmission to the hospital within 30 days of surgery. Bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy and seeking continent diversion should be counseled on the increased short-term morbidity associated with this specific type of diversion.