Postoperative management and rehabilitation of patients receiving an ileal orthotopic bladder substitution.

Ileal orthotopic bladder substitution has become one of the main therapeutic options following radical cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer. While careful patient selection and the surgical technique are necessary to obtain good long-term results and a satisfactory quality of life, postoperative management is also of utmost importance. It includes successful voiding rehabilitation (micturition technique, complete bladder emptying, increase of functional reservoir capacity, and sphincter training) and a meticulous lifelong followup.