Continent diversion with the Mainz pouch.

From 1983 until July 1994, 561 patients in 2 urology departments (Mainz and Wuppertal) underwent a Mainz pouch 1 procedure. The Mainz pouch 1 was used for bladder augmentation in 60 patients, for orthotopic bladder substitution in 61 patients, and for continent cutaneous urinary diversion in 440 patients. In the group of continent cutaneous urinary diversion, the continence mechanism applied was an ileal intussusception nipple in 270 patients, an appendix stoma in 146 patients, a submucosal seromuscular bowel-flap tube in 14 patients, and a submucosal full-thickness bowel-flap tube in 10 patients. Indications for urinary diversion were bladder cancer in 339 patients, anatomical or functional loss of bladder capacity in 179 patients, and other primary or secondary malignancies of the bladder or true pelvis in 43 patients. After a mean follow-up period of 57 months (range, 3-127 months), early and late complications were encountered in 12% and 37% of the patients, respectively. In the bladder-augmentation group, 93% of the patients are completely continent day and night. All but three patients, who empty their reservoir by intermittent self-catheterization (CIC), void spontaneously by abdominal straining. In the orthotopic bladder-substitution group, 95% of the patients are continent during the daytime. To prevent urinary leakage, 13% have to empty their reservoirs regularly at 4-h intervals and 13% have to perform CIC to avoid residual urine. Among the patients treated with continent cutaneous urinary diversion, stoma failure occurred in 11%, stoma stenosis was encountered in 13% and required open revision in 2%, endoscopical incision in 10%, and conservative treatment (dilation) in 1% of cases.