Cystectomy Surgery Overview:
Cystectomy, or bladder-removal surgical operation, is performed either partially or completely to treat bladder cancer or non-malignant bladder diseases by taking out the bladder. Removing your bladder creates an alternative path for urine to leave your body. Usually, surgeons carry out cystectomies as a way to solve problems in the urinary tract. Bladder cancer, congenital abnormalities of the urinary system, and neurologic or inflammatory disorders involving the urinary tract are among the cystectomy indications. The kind of surgery to be done will depend on such factors as surgery reason, individual health status, and personal needs.
The type of cystectomy done depends on the doctor’s way of doing things and circumstances surrounding the patient. Three techniques used include open cystectomy, laparoscopic cystectomy, or robotic cystectomy. This is because some patients are unable to keep their urethra intact, thus needing urine diversion, which allows them to relieve themselves through the penis or vagina. Additionally, depending on tumor location, there are different types of cystectomies, like bladder cystectomy and ovarian cystectomy.
Cystectomy Types
Cystectomy can be classified into two types:
- Partial cystectomy: This is an appropriate surgical procedure for the treatment of bladder cancer in its early stages.
- Radical cystectomy: In this case, the operation typically involves removing not only the bladder but also nearby lymph cells.
Cystectomy Procedure, Recovery, and Post-procedure Care
Preparation: Before any patient can undergo a cystectomy, their health condition is evaluated by the surgeon while determining if bladder removal is necessary. Assessment tests may be required of some patients before the right approach is decided by the surgeon.
During Surgery: A general anesthetic keeps the person unconscious during surgery. The surgeon opens up the belly to take out the bladder and related structures like lymph nodes, making an ileal conduit, a continuous urinary reservoir, or rebuilding a neobladder in place of it. To drain urine from the new bladder, on occasion, a catheter is needed by the specialist.
After the surgery: The stitches are put on the cuts after cystectomy, and bandages are used to cover them over. In general, following laparoscopic or robotic cystectomy, patients are likely to remain in hospital for several days, while their open cystectomy counterparts may take up to one week.
Recovery phase: Time taken to recover from bladder removal surgery differs with individuals who undergo partial cystectomy; partial cystectomy recovery time is shorter than radical cystectomies, which can take from weeks to months.
Post-procedure care: After-surgical care includes
- Maintaining a proper diet as well as fluid intake.
- The discussion of resuming sexual activity with a physician is fundamental.
- Pain medications are recommended in order to reduce pain and discomfort.
- Incision care as well as catheter placement for drainage of urine from the bladder point towards greater efforts such as avoidance of heavy activities for several weeks.
- Catheter to stay for some days or weeks in order to drain urine from the bladder.
- Begin with liquid diets, making progress to regular ones using physicians’s suggestions as a guide.
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Procedure Name
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             Cystectomy
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Type of Surgery
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          Open or laparoscopicÂ
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Type of Anesthesia
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           General anesthesia
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Procedure Duration
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              3 – 6 hours
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Recovery Duration
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         Few weeks to a few months
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Benefits of Cystectomy Surgery
- For initial bladder cancer, it gives a high treatment success rate.
- By removing localized cancer cells, metastasizing is prevented.
- It reduces pain associated with bladder cancer and manifestations of the disease itself.
- It offers respite for uncontrollable severe incontinence.
- This operation can be done for sufferers of interstitial cystitis.
- Improves quality of life by reducing pain and urinary problems.
