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Radical cystectomy was modified by leaving the apical prostatic capsule to facilitate anastomosis of the isolated ileocecal segment to the urethra and to preserve erectile potency. The transpubic approach was used to increase the exposure, and to facilitate dissection and anastomosis. A total of 15 patients with stages T1 to T4 bladder tumors underwent the operation: 13 after preoperative radiotherapy with 4,000 rad and 2 had salvage cystectomy after 6,000 rad. One patient died postoperatively. The remaining 14 patients underwent urodynamic evaluation 3 to 6 months postoperatively. The maximum urine flow rates were almost normal and none of the patients had significant residual urine. Daytime urinary continence was satisfactory in 13 patients and 1 was moderately incontinent. All of the patients were incontinent at night, probably owing to peristaltic contractions in the intestinal bladder and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. Preoperatively, 8 patients experienced erections and 7 had intercourse. Postoperatively, erectile potency was preserved in 4 patients and 3 had sexual function. No orthopedic disability occurred postoperatively. The median followup was 20 months, with a range of 3 to 30 months. There have been no local recurrences. A year postoperatively 6 of 9 patients had sterile urine. This technique makes it possible to avoid a urinary stoma, to obtain satisfactory voiding and urinary continence in almost all cases, and to preserve sexual function in some patients after cystectomy.

Stricture formation after transurethral prostatectomy was studied in a randomized clinical trial including 185 patients. The patients were allocated to either a 2-day urethral catheter-dilation or internal Otis urethrotomy and to an operation with either a polytetrafluoroethylene coated or an uninsulated metal resectoscope. Urethral stricture was defined as an obstruction resulting in a maximum urine flow rate of less than 15 ml. per second and not permitting the passage of a 21F cystoscope. The frequency of urethral strictures was significantly lower after Otis internal urethrotomy (4 per cent) than after a 2-day urethral catheter dilation (16 per cent). The incidence of stricture formation was similar in patients operated on with a polytetrafluoroethylene coated (8 per cent) and with an uninsulated metal (12 per cent) resectoscope sheath. The incidence of stricture formation was unrelated to age, duration of preoperative and postoperative catheterization, operating time and presence of urinary tract infection.