Urinary Incontinence and Retention in the Female Neobladder Why Does This Occur and Treatment Options?

Abstract

A rising number of female patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder are treated with orthotopic bladder replacement using an ileal neobladder. This method has two major drawbacks that may occur post-operatively, i.e., incontinence or increased residual urine up to urinary retention. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the pathophysiology and possible treatment options. The treatment options of urinary incontinence in general are different kinds of tension-free tapes and the artificial sphincter; however, possibilities to treat chronic retention are very limited and can be reduced by modifications during the surgical procedure itself by creation of a low-pressure neobladder.