Charleston Pouch with in-situ appendix and concealed umbilical stoma

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To evaluate the functional outcome of the Charleston pouch procedure as a continent catheterizable urinary reservoir using an unaltered in-situ appendix with a triangular skin flap at its umbilical stoma with few modifications to the original technique. Patients and Methods: Between February 1999 and October 2002; 34 patients (31 males and 3 females) were studied at the Urology Department; Assiut University Hospital; Assiut; Egypt. The indications for urinary diversion were radical cystectomy for invasive carcinoma of the bilharzial bladder in 27 males and three females; and incontinent epispadias in four male patients. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 60 years (mean 48.1 6.1 years). Mean follow up was 30 4.2 months (range 11-40 months). The evaluation during the follow-up period included clinical; laboratory; imaging and urodynamic studies to evaluate the functional outcome. Results: All patients are continent (day and night). No stomal stenosis was recorded. Laboratory investigations were within normal. The upper urinary tract remained unchanged in all patients. Pouchometry revealed that the Charleston pouch is a low-pressure (4 -21 cm H2O) reservoir with a good capacity (average 750 ml). Cancer recurrence was recorded in 3 patients at 12; 27 and 32 months. Conclusions: The Charleston pouch with in-situ appendix is an efficient versatile technique for the creation of a catheterizable continent cutaneous urinary reservoir. The umbilical stoma with triangular skin flap provides excellent cosmetic results: