Reconstruction of urinary and gastrointestinal tracts in total pelvic exenteration: experience at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the effectiveness of and complications from total pelvic exenteration (TPE) with maintenance of urethral and anal sphincter function for locally invasive tumors of the pelvis.

METHODS: A retrospective review of 4 patients who have undergone TPE with urethral and anal sphincter preservation at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in the last 2 years was performed with attention to perioperative morbidity and mortality, disease-free status, and need for further operative procedures.

RESULTS: Two patients had colorectal adenocarcinoma, 1 had squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, and 1 had prostate sarcoma. All had urinary tract reconstruction with orthotopic neobladder creation, and 3 of 4 had primary low rectal anastomoses for gastrointestinal reconstruction. One patient underwent creation of a J rectal pouch. One of 4 patients had received radiation therapy for the disease prior to surgery. There was no operative or perioperative mortality. Two of 4 patients required reoperation, 1 in the immediate postoperative period for repair of a left ureteral stricture, and the other 13 months postoperatively for repair of a rectal-neobladder fistula. With a mean follow-up of 25 months (range, 21 to 43 months), 3 of 4 patients are alive and free of disease. All living patients are continent of urine and 2 of 3 are continent of stool.

CONCLUSIONS: Our experience confirms that TPE can be effective in controlling a variety of locally advanced pelvic tumors and can be performed in conjunction with simultaneous genitourinary and gastrointestinal reconstruction with minimal morbidity.