Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Cystoprostatectomy for Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: Results and Oncologic Outcomes in a Single Center in Douala Cameroon

Abstract

Background and Aim: Radical cystectomy is the treatment of choice for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Although open surgery is currently the gold standard for this procedure, it can also be done via laparoscopy. We aimed to evaluate the oncologic results and the place of laparoscopic cystectomy in the management of bladder cancer in a single urology center in Douala, Cameroon. Patients and Methods: This is a prospective, single-center study carried out from 2015 to 2019. We included 12 patients (ten men and two women) with bladder cancer who underwent total radical laparoscopic transperitoneal cystectomy with ilio-obturator lymph node dissection. Data on patients’ demographic characteristics, pre-operative and postoperative clinical parameters and workup results, and surgical outcomes were collected to determine the overall survival using a Kaplan-Meier curve. Results: We recruited ten men and two women with a median age of 61.5 [52.8 - 68.5] years. The mean tumor diameter was 3.75 ± 1.06 cm. Three (25%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy while eight did not. The mean surgery duration was 242 ± 45.85 minutes. Blood vessels and nerves were preserved in four (33.33%) patients during surgery. Transitional cell carcinoma was found in 10 (83.33%) patients while epidermoid carcinoma was found in two (16.67%) patients. Metastasis occurred in four (33.33%) patients while the tumor recurred in two (16.67%) patients who later died. Bricker’s ileal conduit urinary diversion was performed in 10 (83.33%) patients while the Studer neobladder was used in two (16.67%) patients. The mean duration of hospitalization was 6 ± 1.48 days. Only one patient (8.33%) developed a postoperative complication. Six (50%) of the patients died while six survived. The median overall survival was 486 days and the five-year overall survival rate was 46.47%. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cystectomy is a mini-invasive technique associated with good cancer control. When performed by well-trained staff using specialized equipment, it can be a safe and effective method of managing muscle-invasive bladder cancer.