Bladder removal, a surgical procedure called radical cystectomy, is a form of treatment for bladder cancer. After a patient has her bladder removed, additional reconstructive surgery is necessary to create a diversionary path for urine flow. Approximately 25 to 35 percent of patients who undergo this bladder removal procedure develop complications following surgery, according to health professionals with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The risk of complications should be discussed with a doctor before having surgery.
Urination Problems
After bladder removal, patients typically lose the ability to urinate normally. Reconstruction surgery creates a new bladder from a piece of the patient's intestine. Urine that collects within this newly created bladder is diverted out of an opening on the side of a patient's body called a stoma. Patients who have this procedure performed can experience difficulty voluntarily controlling the flow of urine, warn medical experts with BIDMC. Urine may frequently leak or drip from the stoma, which can be embarrassing or bothersome to affected patients.
Additionally, certain patients may experience ureter damage during bladder removal surgery. The ureters are small tubes that carry fluid waste from the kidneys into the bladder. If these tubes become blocked, fluid waste can abnormally accumulate within a patient's abdomen. Ureter blockage requires additional medical intervention to resolve this bladder removal complication.
Intestinal Obstruction
During surgery, the intestinal tract can be inadvertently damaged. If this occurs, patients can develop intestinal blockage, also called ileus, as a complication of bladder removal. Nearly 10 percent of patients developed ileus following radical cystectomy, according to a study published by Dr. Hollenbeck and colleagues in the October 2005 issue of "The Journal of Urology." Symptoms associated with intestinal obstruction include constipation, vomiting and abdominal cramping or tenderness. Patients who develop intestinal obstruction following bladder removal require immediate medical attention.
Sexual Function Loss
The nerves involved in maintaining normal sexual function in men and women can be damaged during bladder removal surgery. Consequently, certain patients can experience loss of sexual function as a complication of this surgical procedure, explain health professionals with UpToDate. Sexual function complications in men can include impotence, a condition in which a man can't achieve an erection or ejaculate during sexual stimulation. Women can experience sexual complications such as vaginal dryness, pain during intercourse or difficulty achieving an orgasm. Nerve-sparing bladder removal procedures may help limit the severity of sexual function loss in patients.
Infection, Bleeding or Blood Clots
Surgical procedures, such as bladder removal, increase a patient's risk of developing an infection, unusual bleeding or blood clots, explains the Mayo Clinic. Patients who develop symptoms of infection, such as fever; chills or sweating; or bleeding from the incision site, should contact a medical professional immediately. Affected patients may require antibiotic medication to resolve infection complications.
References
- "The Journal of Urology;" Identifying Risk Factors for Potentially Avoidable Complications Following Radical Cystectomy; BK Hollenbeck et., al.; October 2005
- UpToDate: Bladder Cancer Treatment
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center: Radical Cystectomy
- USC Institute of Urology: Early Complications After Cystectomy
- Mayo Clinic: Cystectomy: About
