Procedure Overview
Preoperative Evaluation: Before undergoing cystectomy, patients undergo a thorough
preoperative evaluation, which may include imaging studies, blood tests, urine tests, and possibly a
biopsy of the bladder tissue to confirm the diagnosis and determine the extent of the disease.
Surgical Approach: Cystectomy can be performed using different surgical approaches,
including open surgery, laparoscopic surgery, or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The choice of
approach depends on factors such as the patient's overall health, the extent of the disease, and the
surgeon's expertise.
Bladder Removal: During the procedure, the surgeon removes all or part of the
bladder, along with any nearby lymph nodes that may contain cancerous cells. In some cases,
additional organs such as the prostate in men or the uterus and ovaries in women may also be removed
if they are affected by cancer or if they need to be removed to achieve adequate cancer clearance.
Urinary Diversion: After bladder removal, the surgeon creates a new way for urine
to exit the body. This may involve creating a urinary diversion, such as an ileal conduit (where the
ureters are connected to a section of the small intestine that drains into a stoma on the abdominal
wall) or a neobladder (where a new bladder is created using a segment of the intestine and connected
to the urethra).
Reconstruction: If a neobladder is created, the surgeon reconstructs the intestine
to form a pouch that functions similarly to a bladder. This allows the patient to urinate normally
through the urethra, preserving continence and avoiding the need for an external stoma.