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Study Type - Preference (prospective cohort) Level of Evidence 4 OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare long-term defecation disturbances in patients who had undergone a cystectomy due to urinary blad ...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether or not an improved hygiene can lessen the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients treated by cystectomy for urinary bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS We attempted to contact during their follow-up all men and women aged 30-80 years who had undergone cystectomy and urinary diversion at seven Swedish hospitals. During a qualitative phase we identified hygienic measures and included them in a study-specific questionnaire. The patients completed the questionnaire at home. Outcome variables were dichotomized and the results presented as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS We received the questionnaire from 452 (92%) of 491 identified patients. The proportion of patients who had a symptomatic UTI in the previous year was 22% for orthotopic neobladder and cutaneous continent reservoir, and 23% for non-continent urostomy diversion. The RR for a UTI was 1.1 (0.5-2.5) for 'never washing hands' before handling with catheters or ostomy material. Patients with diabetes mellitus had a RR of 2.1 (1.4-3.2) for having a symptomatic UTI. CONCLUSIONS We could not confirm lack of hygiene measures as a cause of UTI for men and women who had a cystectomy with urinary diversion. Patients with diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of contracting a UTI.

To evaluate how an increasing burden of symptoms influences well-being, anxiety and depression at different intervals after a radical cystectomy with urostomy for bladder cancer, as this therapy can induce long-term distressful symptoms.Patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy in Stockholm between 1969 and 1995 were matched with 434 controls from the normal population; all 404 patients operated on between 1985 and 1995 at three other hospitals in Sweden were invited to enter the study. The final analysis included 306 patients and 310 controls, all assessed for symptoms and well-being.A low or moderate level of well-being was reported by 35% of the patients having none or one of the symptoms studied, by 39% with two symptoms, by 45% with three symptoms and by 66% of those with four or more symptoms. The values, irrespective of symptom burden, were 45% after 2-5 years of follow-up, 58% after 6-10 years and 38% at10 years after surgery. The total symptom burden also influenced the risk of anxiety and depression. Symptom prevalence remained largely unaffected by the duration of follow-up, except for defecation urgency.The number of long-term symptoms after radical surgery with a urostomy for urinary bladder cancer affects the risk of anxiety, depression and low or moderate well-being.

• To describe and compare long-term defecation disturbances in patients who had undergone a cystectomy due to urinary bladder cancer with non-continent urostomies, continent reservoirs and orthotopic neobladder urinary diversions.• During their follow-up we attempted to contact all men and women aged 30-80 years who had undergone cystectomy and urinary diversion at seven Swedish hospitals. • During a qualitative phase we identified defecation disturbances as a distressful symptom and included this item in a study-specific questionnaire together with free-hand comments. The patients completed the questionnaire at home. • Outcome variables were dichotomized and the results are presented as relative risks with 95% confidence interval.• The questionnaire was returned from 452 (92%) of 491 identified patients. Up to 30% reported problems with the physiological emptying process of stool (bowel movement, sensory rectal function, awareness of need for defecation, motoric rectal and anal function, straining ability). • A sense of decreased straining capacity was reported by 20% of the men and women with non-continent urostomy and 14% and 8% of those with continent reservoirs and orthotopic neobladders, respectively.• Of the cystectomized individuals 30% reported problems with the physiological emptying process of stool (bowel movement, sensory rectal function, awareness of need for defecation, motoric rectal and anal function, straining ability). • Those wanting to improve the situation for bladder cancer survivors may consider communicating before surgery the possibility of stool-emptying problems, and asking about them after surgery.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), Asp1104His (G3507C), in the XPG gene affects malignant phenotypes of nonmuscle-invasive urinary bladder neoplasms (NIBN), by investigating associations between the SNP and clinicopathological variables in patients with NIBN. PATIENTS AND METHODS The 233 patients constituted newly diagnosed cases of primary NIBN in the Stockholm area. The Asp1104His polymorphism in the XPG gene was genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. RESULTS The GC + CC genotypes were more frequent in stage pT1 tumours at initial diagnosis than pTa (odds ratio 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1.0–3.5, P = 0.048). The difference was larger in the young group (4.6, 1.9–11.8, P = 0.001). In the young group, the GC + CC genotypes were significantly more frequent in high-grade than in low-grade tumours (3.1, 1.5–6.8, P = 0.004) whereas in the older group the genotypes were less frequent in high-grade tumours (0.3, 0.1–0.7, P = 0.007). The XPG genotypes were not associated with tumour recurrence, stage progression or survival. CONCLUSION These results suggest that the SNP in the XPG gene might be related to tumour invasiveness in NIBN.