Transverse colon conduit for supravesical urinary tract diversion.

Twenty-two patients with extensive pelvic irradiation underwent supravesical urinary diversion using a transverse colon conduit. Primary diseases were most often carcinoma of the cervix and urinary bladder. Indications for diversion included original treatment planning, radiation cystitis, vesicovaginal fistula, and ureteral obstruction. Operative mortality was low (4 per cent), and most complications were managed by further surgery. Normal upper urinary tracts usually remained normal after diversion; relief of existing hydroureteronephrosis was seen in a majority of patients. Stomal problems have been minimal, and renal function has remained normal or stable. The method affords the use of nonirradiated transverse colon as well as the ureter high above the field of pelvic irradiation and is the preferred diversion in such patients.