Use of ileal bypass in the surgical management of two rare cases of ileal-neobladder fistula in patients who underwent radical cystectomy

Purpose: An entero-neovesical fistula (ENF) is a rare troublesome complication of an orthotopic ileal bladder substitution. We report on a novel, safe technique to close ileal neovesical fistulas without extensive adhesiolysis using an NK-stapler (ENDOPATH® ENDOCUTTER ETS; Johnson & Johnson, Cincinnati, OH, USA). Patients: We treated two cases of postoperative ENF after orthotopic ileal bladder substitution for radical cystectomy. Case 1 was a 63-year-old male with occasional fecaluria, and Case 2 was a 73-year-old male who experienced continuous fecaluria. Surgical procedure After laparotomy, we mobilized the ascending colon to bypass the anastomosis of the primary surgery by an ileo-ileal, ileo-ascending colon anastomosis. The distance between the fistula and bypass was about 10 cm. We made tunnels in the mesentery between the bypass and fistula, without damaging blood vessels, to insert the jaw of the NK-stapler. We closed the afferent and efferent loops using NK-staplers (45 mm ×2), followed by a Lembert anastomosis covering the stapler’s suture lines. Results: They were discharged on the ninth and seventh postoperative days, respectively. In Case 1, we experienced recanalization of the fistula after three postoperative months and required second closure with the same procedure was needed. They have not experienced any symptoms of ENF since. Conclusions: This technique is worth considering for the surgical treatment of ENF because it does not require unnecessary dissection and can ultimately achieve fistula closure.