Refluxing chimney versus nonrefluxing LeDuc ureteroileal anastomosis for orthotopic ileal neobladder: a comparative analysis for patients with bladder cancer.

Purpose: Radical cystectomy and various techniques of urinary diversion are gold standard treatments for invasive bladder cancer. However, postoperative hydronephrosis is a common complication in these patients. A special focus was placed on the type of ureteroileal anastomosis used with 2 different techniques performed at 1 institution.Materials and Methods: Between 1995 and 2003 a total of 106 consecutive patients with bladder cancer underwent cystectomy followed by construction of an ileal neobladder. The nonrefluxing technique of ureter tunneling described by LeDuc and the refluxing chimney technique used for ureter implantation into the ileum-neobladder were compared. Hydronephrosis due to ureteral strictures was studied immediately following surgery and up to 5 years after surgery.Results: A total of 204 RU were included in the study. The LeDuc technique was used in 132 RU (64%) and the chimney technique was used in 72 RU (36%). Hydronephrosis rate of 2% were found in each of the 2 groups after 5 ye...