Quality of life of the patients with continent urinary reservoir

To improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients requiring urinary diversion, various surgical techniques including those employing a continent urinary reservoir (CUR), such as Kock pouch or Indiana pouch, and those using the conventional ileal conduit have been advocated. In this study we asked patients who had undergone a CUR operation to complete a questionnaire, consisting of 106 questions relating to the QOL during the disease-free period. A total of 81 questionnaires were sent out, and 60 (74.1%) CUR patients responded. The average age was 61 and the male to female ratio was 49 to 11. The time elapsed from the operation was 42 months. Twenty-nine questions addressed the patients physical condition and on the whole it was kept in good quality. Because they were unwilling to show their stoma, they were reluctant to bathe together with family members. However, 59% of them went to a public bathhouse (common in Japan). Other physical abilities related to exercise were not significantly hampered by this operation. Eighty per-cent of them were not bothered by having a stoma. Twenty four questions were related to social life. The operation had a bad influence in 20-30% of them concerning their interaction with friends and hobbies. Twenty two percent of the patients who had a job prior to the operation stopped working. Only a few patients abandoned travelling. Concerning their sex life (7 questions), males suffered impotence at a very high rate, but only 26% of the patients lost interest in sex. Symptoms related to the operation (41 questions) were mild. Overall, 94% of the patients would choose the same operation again if it were required.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)