[Long-term follow-up of female tetraplegic patients with cutaneous vesicostomy].

Tetraplegic women who underwent a cutaneous vesicostomy in our institutions were studied to evaluate long-term urinary complications and their quality of life (QOL). A total of 5 patients (C4, C5 and C6 injuries in one patient each and C7 injury in 2) were followed for 98 to 125 months (mean 107 months). Autonomic hyperreflexia disappeared after surgery in all patients. None of the patients showed deterioration of the upper urinary tract. Urinary tract infections were noted in 3 of 5 patients, but not severe. Bladder stones developed in 2 patients and a stomal stricture in 1. A questionnaire survey showed the patients to be satisfied with the operation, which had improved their QOL. These findings suggest that a cutaneous vesicostomy is an excellent surgical procedure for tetraplegic women.