Health-related quality of life after urinary diversion: continent diversion with the Kock pouch compared with ileal conduit. A questionnaire study.

A questionnaire study was carried out to compare the health-related quality of life after continent urinary diversion using a Kock pouch with that following ileal conduit diversion. 76 patients completed the questionnaire: 26 patients had a continent and 50 an ileal conduit diversion, median follow-up was 0.9 year (range 0.5-4.4) and 4.9 years (range 2.4-14.7), respectively. The type of operation carried significant relation to the presence of leakage distress associated with urine leakage; 78% among conduit patients versus 50% among continent diversion patients experienced distress. Physical contact between patient and partner was reduced significantly less following continent diversion: 16% against 43% among patients with conduit diversion. Global satisfaction with life was high and similar in the two groups. Continent urinary diversion appears to be superior to conventional ileal conduit diversion.