Open radical cystectomy: single center results and outcomes in the last five years

Radical cystectomy is a therapeutic modality of choice for many patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer. We conducted a retrospective study of open radical cystectomies performed at a single Center from January 2017 to January 2022. Decision on the urinary diversion type was based on tumor stage, comorbidities, patient age, general condition and preferences. There were 19.5% of female and 80.5% of male patients, median age 67 (range 38-90) years. We performed 96 (44.7%) ureterocutaneostomies (UCS), 67 (31.2%) ileal conduit derivations, and 52 (24.2%) orthotopic neobladder derivations (OND). There were 17 (7.9%) complications after UCS, 7 (3.2%) after incontinent urinary diversion, and 7 (3.2%) after OND. Fifty-five (25.6%) patients developed early complications, of which 31 (14.4%) during the initial hospitalization period, and 24 (11.2%) required re-hospitalization in the 30-day postoperative period. The most common wound-related complication was wound dehiscence, most typically caused by infection. The main reason for readmission was urosepsis. The 30-day mortality rate was 0.9%. Late complications that occurred 30 days after the operation were found in 39 (18.1%) cases. Bladder cancer is a high-mortality disease that requires a multidisciplinary and personalized approach. Further development of multidisciplinary teams, perioperative and postoperative care, and follow-up strategy is needed to improve the oncologic and functional outcomes of this procedure.