Urinary diversion for incontinence--a beneficial procedure?

In the past 8 years at St George's Hospital, 13 women underwent urinary diversion for disabling incontinence. Seven patients had multiple sclerosis, 2 had suffered trauma to the lumbar spine and 4 had failed repeated surgery for urethral sphincter incompetence. One patient died several months postoperatively due to relapse of her multiple sclerosis. The remaining 12 were interviewed to determine the effect of the operation on their quality of life. Preoperatively, 9 patients (75%) were either housebound or only ventured out to do the shopping and none led a full social life. Postoperatively 8 patients (67%) managed a full social life and all were improved. Most managed their stomas proficiently and none regretted having the operation. The most common late complication was pyocystis. We conclude that patients with disabling incontinence can have their quality of life substantially improved by urinary diversion. The incidence of pyocystis is probably high enough to warrant vaginal vesicostomy to be performed routinely at the time of diversion, at least in those women with chronic urinary infection.